This week, Australia’s largest aspirin study reached a significant milestone – randomising its 12,500th participant, equal to the original Australian recruitment target set in 2010.
Since 2010, ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) has enlisted the help of healthy older Australians to determine if daily low dose aspirin extends good physical and cognitive health in people aged 70 and more. The primary prevention study will, for the first time in the world, weigh the benefits of aspirin versus the risks, such as bleeding.
ASPREE Executive Officer, Associate Professor Robyn Woods, praised older Australians for their positive response to the trial.
“12,500 people is an impressive milestone. We have been so successful thanks to the willingness of older people to give back to the community, “ said Associate Professor Woods.
“ASPREE forms a unique partnership between generous older Australians, their dedicated and supportive GPs and a highly professional research team.”
The recruitment period continues with the trial aiming to reach a new target of 16,500 Australian participants in this international clinical project.
Eligible participants are aged 70+ years (no upper age limit), must not have had a heart attack or stroke and are able to be randomly assigned to take 100 mg of aspirin or a placebo tablet daily. Once enrolled in the trial, participants undertake annual study health checks for an average of five years.
Led by Monash University in Australia, the ASPREE trial is being rolled out across all of Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT, southern NSW, Adelaide, Mt Gambier and most recently, Wollongong.
ASPREE is a collaborative study with the Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research in the USA. It is funded by the US National Institute on Aging, with funding support also received from the Australian National health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA).
Early results should be known by 2018.
For more information on the ASPREE study visit http://www.aspree.org/ or call 1800 728 745 (toll free from a landline).
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