What did the research discover?
Researchers wanted to find out if taking a small dose of aspirin every day could lead to anemia (a condition where you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells) and lower iron levels in the blood. To do this, they analyzed data from a large study called ASPREE.
This study included 19,114 older adults living in the United States and Australia. All participants were at least 70 years old, except for Black and Hispanic participants, who could join at 65 or older. The researchers divided the participants into two groups: one group took 100 mg of aspirin daily, while the other group took a placebo (a pill with no medicine in it).
Researchers checked participants’ hemoglobin levels (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) every year. They also measured ferritin (a protein that stores iron in the body) at the start of the study and again three years later in a smaller group of 7,139 people.
Here’s what they found:
- People taking aspirin developed anemia more often than those taking the placebo. For every 1,000 people each year, about 51 people in the aspirin group developed anemia, compared to 43 people in the placebo group.
- Hemoglobin levels dropped naturally over time in both groups, but the decline was faster in those taking aspirin.
- After three years, people in the aspirin group had lower ferritin levels, meaning they had less stored iron than those who took the placebo.
Even when the researchers removed cases of major bleeding from their analysis, aspirin still appeared to contribute to anemia and lower iron levels.
How can I apply this information?
This research suggests that taking low-dose aspirin every day may increase the risk of anemia and lower iron levels in older adults, even when there is no major bleeding. Doctors may need to monitor hemoglobin levels in older adults who are taking aspirin regularly.
It’s important to remember that this study is research, and it does not mean everyone should stop taking aspirin, especially if it has been prescribed for you. If you are taking daily aspirin, talk to your doctor about whether you should have your iron levels checked. If this study is still in clinical trials, speak with your doctor before making any changes to your medication.
Source:
McQuilten ZK, Thao LT, Pasricha SR, Artz AS, Bailey M, Chan AT, Cohen HJ, Lockery JE, Murray AM, Nelson MR, Schneider HG. Effect of low-dose aspirin versus placebo on incidence of anemia in the elderly: a secondary analysis of the aspirin in reducing events in the elderly trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2023 Jul;176(7):913-21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37335992/
