Study promotes greater use of aspirin

GREATER use of aspirin and other low-cost generic medicines would significantly reduce the toll from heart disease and stroke, according to a seven-year global study.

Known as the PURE report, the study of 150,000 people found that 60% of those with heart disease may not be taking any of the four effective drug types. The PURE researcher team presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology’s conference in Paris. Heart disease and stroke are the two greatest causes of death globally.

PURE lead researcher Salim Yusuf of the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario, said: “This is a global tragedy. There’s no other way to say this. These are inexpensive, widely available drugs.”