Preventive Aspirin and Other Antiplatelet Medication Use Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥ 40 Years: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012.

Objective.We estimated the prevalence of preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medication use and the dosage of aspirin use in the U.S. adult population.Methods.We conducted cross-sectional analyses of a representative sample (n=3,599) of U.S. adults aged ≥40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.Results.In 2011–2012, one-third of U.S. adults aged ≥40 years reported taking preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medications, 97% of whom indicated preventive aspirin use. Preventive aspirin use increased with age (from 11% of those aged 40–49 years to 54% of those ≥80 years of age, p<0.001). Non-Hispanic white (35%) and black (30%) adults were more likely to take preventive aspirin than non-Hispanic Asian (20%, p<0.001) and Hispanic (22%, p=0.013) adults. Adults with, compared with those without health insurance, and adults with ≥2 doctor visits in the past year, diagnosed diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol were twice as likely to take preventive asp...