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Question 23#

You are reviewing your office records as part of a performance review mandated by an insurance company. One criterion is appropriate to use of low-dose aspirin for prevention of heart attack or stroke. According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations,

which of the following patients should be treated with low-dose (81 or 162 mg daily) aspirin? 

A. 46-year-old healthy woman to prevent heart attack
B. 42-year-old healthy man to prevent heart attack
C. 42-year-old healthy man to prevent heart attack
D. 66-year-old healthy man to prevent stroke
E. 95-year-old healthy woman to prevent heart attack and stroke

Correct Answer is C

Comment:

The USPSTF strongly recommends the use of low-dose aspirin for women age 55 to 79 for ischemic stroke reduction when the potential benefit outweighs the potential harm. It also strongly recommends the use of low-dose aspirin in men between ages 45 and 79 to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction when the potential benefit outweighs the potential harm. The USPSTF recommends against the use of aspirin for stroke prevention in women younger than 55 years or aspirin for myocardial infarction prevention in men younger than 45 years. There is insufficient evidence that the use of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in men and women over the age of 80 exceeds the potential harm of GI hemorrhage from aspirin use.