Prophylactic aspirin use in the adult general population.

Background: The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence and patterns of aspirin use in people with vascular problems.

Methods: A cross-sectional population survey was carried out on a stratified random sample of 10,000 adults aged 35 and over in North Staffordshire.

Results: A total of 6322 adults replied to the questionnaire (adjusted response 67 percent). The prevalence of vascular problems was 12.9 percent, and 67.6 per cent of respondents were using aspirin. The main association with aspirin use was previous advice about aspirin: adults who recalled being given advice were more likely to be using aspirin. Increasing age, disease severity and level of deprivation were also associated with increased aspirin use. Of adults without vascular problems, 7.1 percent also reported using aspirin regularly.

Conclusions: There is still potential to increase aspirin use in those with vascular problems. The extent and quality of health care professionals' advice may be an important area to target. The reasons why some people without vascular problems take regular aspirin is an area for further investigation.