Low-Dose Aspirin in Heart Failure Not Complicated by Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Propensity-Matched Study

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess safety and effectiveness of low-dose aspirin in heart failure (HF) not complicated by atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Despite lack of evidence, low-dose aspirin is widely used in patients with HF and sinus rhythm with and without prior ischemic heart disease.

METHODS: The study included 12,277 patients with new-onset HF during 2007 to 2012 who had no history of atrial fibrillation. Of 5,450 patients using low-dose aspirin at baseline, 3,840 were propensity matched to non-aspirin users in a 1:1 ratio. Propensity-matched Cox models were calculated with respect to the primary composite outcome of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke and the secondary outcomes of bleeding and HF readmission.

RESULTS: The composite outcome occurred in 1,554 (40.5%) patients in the aspirin group and 1,604 (41.8%) patients in the non-aspirin group. Aspirin use was not associated with an altered risk of composite outcome (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91 to 1.05), but it was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (HR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.67), whereas no differences were observed in all-cause mortality and stroke. An increased risk of HF readmission was observed in the aspirin group (HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.33). No difference in bleeding was observed. In subgroup analyses on the basis of a history of ischemic heart disease, the results were similar to the main result.

CONCLUSIONS: No association was detected between low-dose aspirin use and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality, admission for myocardial infarction, and admission for stroke in patients with HF with no history of atrial fibrillation. Aspirin use was associated with an increased risk of readmission for HF.