Va Cooperative Study
What is the role of aspirin in male patients with unstable angina?
Study design
Population
- 1266 male patients
- Inclusion criteria: male patients with unstable angina
- Key exclusion criteria: congestive HF NYHA IV, tachyarrhythmia, anemia, contraindications to aspirin, bleeding tendency, myocardial infarction within 6 weeks, or other illness that might limit 1 year survival
Interventions
- N=625 aspirin (324 mg in buffered solution daily for 12 weeks)
- N=641 placebo (matching placebo daily for 24 weeks)
Primary outcome
Secondary outcomes
- Significant decrease in nonfatal myocardial infarction
- (3.4% vs. 6.9%; RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.83)
- Borderline significant decrease in death (1.6% VS.
3.3%; RR 0.48, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.97)
Safety outcomes
No significant difference in gastrointestinal symptoms or evidence of blood loss.
Conclusion
In male patients with unstable angina, aspirin was superior to placebo with respect to death or acute MI.