ASHP therapeutic position statement on the use of aspirin for prophylaxis of myocardial infarction.

In patients without contraindications, aspirin is an effective, low-cost, and relatively safe but underused option for preventing MI. Given the possible complications of long-term therapy, careful patient selection is warranted. ASHP believes that pharmacists should become actively involved in educating health care professionals about the benefits of using aspirin for the prophylaxis of MI and assisting in the identification of appropriate patients. Pharmacists should encourage patients to modify controllable risk factors for coronary artery disease (smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension) and to view aspirin as an adjunct, not a replacement for these efforts. ASHP strongly believes that well-controlled clinical trials are needed to determine the benefit of aspirin prophylaxis of MI in women.