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"Studies show that aspirin prevents stroke in men, but not women"

does anyone know why?

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce...psasmi.htm


This is what USPSTF says you can read recs if you have time

Here is what I think the question you posed can mean

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S causes about approximately 58% of deaths. Men have a higher risk for coronary heart disease and tend to have these events at a younger age than women but then incidence rates (New Cases) of stroke are higher among men than women. At same time more women die of stroke than men because of their longer life expectancy. So since women live longer they tend to have more time to have strokes as compared to men so it looks like Aspirin doesnt help them as much. I am not a statistician but in my mind that can be one explanation.

These are the findings of one of the studies

For truly asymptomatic women, national guidelines for prevention are gradually developing.2

Counseling for asymptomatic women about CAD should include a review of the common risk

factors and symptoms of CAD as well as encouragement for implementing a healthy

lifestyle.1,2 The single most important intervention for prevention is avoiding exposure to

tobacco.1,2,5 Finally, a randomized control trial of aspirin for primary prevention of CVD in

women age 45 years or older is complete.88 In the Women's Health Study, >39,000 women

professionals received 100 mg aspirin on alternating days or placebo with 10 years of

followup. Overall, there was an insignificant decrease in CV risk, and no decrease in MI.

However, stroke reduction occurred (0.83, 95 percent CI 0, 69–0.99, p = 0.04) from a

decrease in ischemic strokes (RR 0.76, 95 percent CI 0.63–0.93, p = 0.009) without a

statistically increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. In subgroup analysis, aspirin at 100 mg

every other day decreased MI, ischemic stroke, and major CV events among women at least

age 65 years. In a meta-analysis of international primary prevention data, aspirin decreased

the RR of MI in men and of stroke in women, but did not alter the RR of MI among all women.

So these are the results, but I still don't underatand why? may be because of difference in pre menopausal vs post menopausal women. I dont know.

I attended a talk recently about the same, there is always controversy about this majorly in primary prevention, there have nearly been 8 - 9 studies without much conclusion with regards to use of aspirin for primary prevention.

I might have not answered ur Q, but just tried to give some information. For exam puposes this info does not have any role.