Benefits of aspirin use to prevent heart attack

For people at low risk of a heart attack or stroke, about 3 out of 100 will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years if they do not take aspirin. About 2 out of 100 will have a heart attack or stroke if they do take aspirin. For people at moderate risk of a heart attack or stroke, about 10 out of 100 will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years if they do not take aspirin. About 8 out of 100 will have a heart attack or stroke if they do take aspirin. For people at high risk of a heart attack or stroke, about 20 out of 100 will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years if they do not take aspirin. About 16 out of 100 will have a heart attack or stroke if they do take aspirin.

Evidence shows that aspirin lowers the chance of heart attack, especially for people with a high risk of heart attack.

The tables above show the number of people who will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years, arranged by risk level.

The information shown here is based on the best available evidence.

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine

Specialist Medical ReviewerMichael P. Pignone, MD, MPH, FACP - Internal Medicine

Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine

Current as ofApril 3, 2017

Current as of: April 3, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Michael P. Pignone, MD, MPH, FACP - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine