Prevalences widely differ between studies reporting on aspirin resistance .
BACKGROUND The absolute risk of recurrences among patients using aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events remains high .
Persistent platelet reactivity despite aspirin therapy might explain this in part .
Reported prevalences of this so-called aspirin resistance vary widely , between 0 % and 57 % .
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to systematic ally review all available evidence on prevalence of aspirin resistance and to study determinants of reported prevalence .
Low-dose aspirin increases aspirin resistance in patients with coronary artery disease.
PURPOSE We sought to investigate the association of aspirin dose and aspirin resistance in stable coronary artery disease patients measured by a point-of-care assay . METHODS We studied 468 consecutive stable coronary artery disease patients in a referral cardiac center who were taking aspirin 80 to 325 mg daily for > or = 4 weeks .  The VerifyNow Aspirin ( Ultegra RPFA-ASA , Accumetrics Inc , San Diego , Calif ) was used to determine aspirin responsiveness . An aspirin reaction unit ( ARU ) > or = 550 indicates the absence of aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction , based on correlation with epinephrine-induced light transmission aggregometry . Demographic and clinical data were collected to analyze the predictors of aspirin resistance . RESULTS  Aspirin resistance was noted in 128 ( 27.4 % ) patients . Univariate predictors of aspirin resistance include elderly ( P = 0.002 ) , women ( P < 0.001 ) , anemia ( P < 0.001 ) , renal insufficiency ( P = 0.009 ) and aspirin dose < or = 100 mg ( P = 0.004 ) . Multivariate analysis revealed hemoglobin ( odds ratio [ OR ] 0.6 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 0.51 to 0.69 ; P < 0.001 ) and aspirin dose < or = 100 mg ( OR 2.23 ; 95 % CI 1.12 to 4.44 ; P = 0.022 ) to be independent predictors of aspirin resistance . Daily aspirin dose < or = 100 mg was associated with increased prevalence of aspirin resistance compared with 150 mg and 300 mg daily ( 30.2 % vs 16.7 % vs 0 % , P = 0.0062 ) . CONCLUSION A 100 mg or less daily dose of aspirin , which may have lower side effects , is associated with a higher incidence of aspirin resistance in patients with coronary artery disease . Prospect i ve r and omized studies are warranted to eluci date the optimal aspirin dosage for preventing ischemic complications of atherothrombotic disease
Prevalences widely differ between studies reporting on aspirin resistance .
BACKGROUND The absolute risk of recurrences among patients using aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events remains high .
Persistent platelet reactivity despite aspirin therapy might explain this in part .
Reported prevalences of this so-called aspirin resistance vary widely , between 0 % and 57 % .
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to systematic ally review all available evidence on prevalence of aspirin resistance and to study determinants of reported prevalence .