The debatable role of aspirin as a primary prophylactic drug for coronary artery disease: A review

Abstract

Abstract Aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits thromboxane A2 synthesis in platelets and prevents platelet aggregation. It is commonly employed as an antiplatelet drug in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). CVDs are no longer limited to the elderly group; the incidence of myocardial infarction has increased in the young adult population too. Low-dose aspirin (75–325 mg/day) has an established role in secondary prophylaxis of CVD, but its role in primary prophylaxis is debatable. It increases the risk of bleeding. Therefore, it is an attempt to understand the therapeutic status of aspirin as a prophylactic drug, and hence, this review is needed to understand its role.