Aspirin on discharge

In 2009, 99 percent of heart attack survivors at Community Health Network and The Indiana Heart Hospital received a prescription for daily aspirin after hospital discharge unless otherwise contraindicated.

What does aspirin do for the heart?

According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, aspirin is recommended to decrease the incidence (frequency of new cases) of heart disease in adults who have risk factors for heart disease. Individuals who are at increased risk for bleeding, however, may not be candidates for aspirin therapy because aspirin thins the blood, further increasing the risk of bleeding.

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines found Class I evidence (highest level of scientific support) for taking aspirin indefinitely after a heart attack (Circulation, September, 2000: 102 (10); 1193-1209).

Evidence for this guideline has existed since the mid- to late-1990s and has been further supported by subsequent research. “Long-term aspirin therapy confers conclusive net benefits on risk of subsequent MI [myocardial infarction], stroke, and vascular death among patients with a wide range of prior manifestations of cardiovascular disease.” (Circulation, October 21, 1997: 96(8); 2751-2753)

Unless otherwise contraindicated, the protocol at Community Health Network and the Indiana Heart Hospital includes prescribing daily aspirin for heart attack survivors after hospital discharge.

Key

CHE = Community Hospital East
CHN = Community Hospital North
CHS = Community Hospital South
CHA = Community Hospital Anderson
TIHH = The Indiana Heart Hospital
NR = Not Reported
Network = Networkwide Total
National = National Total reported by U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

= Be careful when drawing conclusions for these hospitals because of the small number of patients treated for this condition.