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Aspirin after hospitalisation with Pneumonia to prevent cardiovascular Events randomised Controlled Trial

 

What is the ASPECT study?

The ASPECT Study is a Randomised Controlled Trial, or RCT. It is investigating whether aspirin reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke in patients who are admitted to hospital with pneumonia.

Why is this study being done?

Most people recover normally from a pneumonia infection. But around 5 in 100 people will go on to have a heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin has been used for decades to reduce the chance of having a heart attack or stroke in patients at high risk of either event. It works quickly with limited side effects in the vast majority of patients. Some studies have shown that patients who develop pneumonia and take aspirin have a lower chance of these events.

The high incidence of pneumonia means that there would be about 2,800-3,800 fewer Major Adverse Cardiac Events per year if aspirin were to reduce the risk by 15-20% (in England alone).

Aspirin

Possible advantages

Possibly a lower chance of suffering from a stroke or heart attack if given aspirin but we cannot be certain

Possible disadvantages

Side effects of aspirin include indigestion and bleeding more easily.

What is the aim of the study?

The study aims to test whether low dose aspirin reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke in these patients.

Who can get involved in the ASPECT study?

The study is being carried out at hospitals in England. We aim to recruit 22,600 pneumonia patients in England to the ASPECT study.

Adults aged 50 years and over admitted to hospital with pneumonia will be invited to take part.

If you are a patient interested in The ASPECT Study, please click here for further information.

Funding:

This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Programme (project number NIHR132968). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR HTA or the Department of Health.

Study Registration: This study is registered on the NHS Portfolio and ISRCTN.

Ethics Committee Approval:  This study was approved by the Wales Research Ethics Committee.

Contact details

The ASPECT Study team can be contacted by email to aspect-trial@bristol.ac.uk or by calling 0117 455 8441