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A survey of aspirin use for vascular prophylaxis in Wales

Gareth Morgan, Peter Elwood, Janie Hughes, Ginevra Brown, Marcus Longley

Aspirin is of little interest to pharmaceutical companies and it therefore appears to receive relatively little promotion in vascular prophylaxis. A survey of aspirin taking by patients known to be at high vascular risk was therefore conducted in 12 generalmedical practices across Wales. Random samples of approximately 25 patients within each of six diagnostic groups associated with high vascular risk were selected within each practice. These patients were thenwritten to and asked what drugs theyweretaking regularly. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 1386 patients (85% of those contacted). Overall, only 53% of patients stated they were taking aspirin regularly. This finding provides evidence that low-dose prophylactic aspirin is poorlyused by patients at high vascular risk in Wales. There is therefore an urgent need for the vigorous promotion of the drug for this indication.