Why have we done this study?
- We have done this research to find out whether people with CKD should take daily low-dose aspirin to reduce the risk of a first heart attack or stroke.
- Heart attacks and strokes are usually caused by small blood clots. Aspirin thins the blood so reduces the chance that clots will form but it also increases the chances of bleeding.
- Studies in people who have already suffered a heart attack or stroke show that aspirin reduces the risk of further attacks, and that these benefits are much greater than the risks of bleeding.
- People with CKD are more at risk of a heart attack or stroke than the general population, and aspirin may therefore by beneficial, but the risks of bleeding may also be higher.
- Before we can recommend aspirin treatment to help a first heart attack or stroke in people with CKD, we need to be sure that the benefits of treatment outweigh the possible risks.
- Currently, around 1 million people in the UK with CKD are already taking aspirin for this reason and around 3 million are not.
Who organised and funded the research?
The study was organised by a team of researchers from different UK Universities, led by the University of Southampton.
It was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme (part of the NHS) and the British Heart Foundation.