A study of almost 2500 patients prescribed either warfarin or aspirin for heart disease found that aspirin was as effective as warfarin in preventing stroke and major bleeding. Although each drug was found to have risks and side effects, they were both found to prevent heart failure in patients with irregular heartbeats.
The authors of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 
declared that “there is no compelling reason to use warfarin rather than aspirin…” due to the similarities in benefits between the two drugs and the convenience and low cost of aspirin. Although patients taking warfarin had a lower risk of stroke, they had a high risk of bleeds and the benefits were borderline in comparison to the risks of major haemorrhage.
The British Heart Foundation felt that the study showed that neither aspirin nor warfarin have a treatment advantage and indeed, Dr Andrew Clark from the British Society for Heart Failure felt that a gastrointestinal haemorrhage was of less importance than a stroke and would therefore be inclined to continue prescribing warfarin.
It appears that the results of the study may help to promote patient choice and that, alongside their doctors, patients will be able to choose the best treatment for their heart disease in accordance with the risks.
