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Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
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ISSN 1681-715X |
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EDITORIAL |
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Volume 22 |
July - September 2006 |
Number 3 |
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Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
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ISSN 1681-715X |
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EDITORIAL |
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Volume 22 |
July - September 2006 |
Number 3 |
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Under use of Aspirin in Acute
Coronary Syndromes
Shaukat Ali Jawaid
ABSTRACT
Safety and efficacy of Aspirin in reducing morbidity and mortality in Acute Coronary Syndromes and other cardiovascular diseases is now well established. This editorial highlights the salient features of Aspirin Awareness and Usage Study (AAUS) conducted by Pakistan Aspirin Foundation on 1400 ACS patients admitted at seventeen hospitals, CCUs all over Pakistan. The study included male and female of all age groups suffering from CAD, ACS and Unstable Angina. Of these 1400 patients, 68.1% were male and 31.9% were female. Twelve hundred ninety nine patients (91.1%) presented with chest pain, six hundred two (42.3%) with shortness of breath and one hundred eighty seven (6.1%) with syncope. Mean age of patients was 52.2±10.7 years. Only forty four patients (3.1%) had adverse effects. Most myocardial infarction patients reached hospital after mean of 13.2±6.2 hours after onset of symptoms. Only 50% of patients suffering from ACS were prescribed Aspirin at the time of discharge from hospitals, 71.1% were given aspirin in wards and only 59.9% of patients reaching the emergency room were given aspirin. About 20.8% of patients were prescribed aspirin therapy by family physicians and only 16% patients took aspirin at home when they suffered from chest pain. Aspirin is a safe and effective household medication for ACS but its use is still far less than optimal goal. AAUS study showed that there is still a lot to be done as regards conveying the simple message among the healthcare professionals as well as public that in case of chest pain irrespective of the fact whether it is cardiac in nature or not, single tablet of soluble aspirin or chewing of one tablet aspirin of 325mg can prove life saving. One tablet of aspirin can be given immediately at home even before the patient is taken to a family physician or a hospital. Every effort should be made to ensure that patients with chest pain reach the nearest healthcare facility as early as possible and every patient with suspected chest pain on reaching emergency room should be given aspirin therapy immediately. Long term use of low dose aspirin therapy is extremely safe, effective and could go a long way in reducing morbidity and mortality.
Pak J Med Sci July September 2006 Vol. 22 No. 3 219-222
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