The prevalence, risk factors and prognosis of aspirin resistance in elderly male patients with cardiovascular disease

Aim:Aspirin resistance is recognized in different population. However, the prevalence and clinical events of aspirin resistance in elderly male patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been reported. Methods: We enrolled 304 elderly male patients with CVD receiving daily aspirin therapy (≥ 75 mg) more than 1 month. Platelet aggregation was measured by light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and thrombelastography platelet mapping assay (TEG). The median follow-up time was 1.8 years. The primary outcome was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke and transient ischemic attack. Results: By LTA, 25 (8.2%) of elderly patients were aspirin resistant and 106 (34.9%) patients were semiresponders. According to TEG, 62 patients (20.4%) were found to be resistant to aspirin therapy. Of the 62 patients with aspirin resistance by TEG, 21 patients were aspirin resistant by LTA. Twenty-two of the 106 semiresponders by LTA were aspirin resistant by TEG. Patients with aspirin resis...