Study pinpoints best aspirin dosage for heart attack victims

DALLAS While many consumers at risk of heart disease supplement with 81 mg of aspirin daily, a recent study published in this week’s edition of the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that double that dose significantly reduces mortality in people who are suffering from a heart attack.

The International Study of Infarct Survival trial demonstrated that treatment with 162.5 mg aspirin reduces morbidity and mortality in heart attack patients, at least as much as 325 mg of aspirin, but is not associated with a significant increase in risk of moderate or severe bleeding as is the case with the higher dose of aspirin.

Presently, the most common initial dose of aspirin in the immediate aftermath of a heart attack is 325 mg.

On the basis of these data, the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology gave a class I level of evidence A to immediate use of 162 mg of aspirin, which is the strongest recommendation backed by strong evidence of efficacy as ranked by the organizations.

“Although these data are non-randomized, they suggest that for the first dose of aspirin, 162 mg may be as effective as and safer than 325 mg for the acute treatment of [a heart attack],” the study concluded.