Aspirin (2013, 2022, 2024) Use and AMD

2024

An Australian-based study known as the ASPREE trial was a multicenter, international, randomized, placebo-clinical trial that investigated the efficiency of low-dose aspirin in prolonging disability-free survival among older individuals. A substudy of that trial, known as the ASPREE-AMD (The Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly-AMD) study, was analyzed for AMD incidence and progression.

There was a total of 3171 participants with a median age of 73.5 years, and there was an even distribution of males and females. Color retinal images were used to determine AMD status. The experimental group was treated with 100 mg of aspirin daily, the control group was given a placebo. Data was recorded between 2010 and 2015, and the research was analyzed from December 2022 to December 2023.

Results found the proportion of incident AMD cases in the aspirin and placebo groups were about the same; the difference in proportion of cases that progressed from early/intermediate to late AMD was also insignificant. The results did not support the suggestion that low-dose aspirin prevents the development or progression of AMD.

Robman LD, Wolfe R, Woods RL, Thao LTP, Makeyeva GA, et al. (2024) Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin on the Course of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Secondary Analysis of the ASPREE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. Jul 1;142(7):627-635.

2022

A 2022 meta-analysis review of 16 studies found no statistical significance in the association of aspirin use and AMD. Some of the studies that had analyzed for possible harmful effects due to long-term low-dose aspirin use reported inconsistent findings.

Yan R, Zhao J, Zhang X, Wang W, Jiang Z. (2022). Association Between Aspirin Usage and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. Mar 25;13:824745.

2013

Researchers investigating frequency of aspirin use with vision health found that there was a higher risk of developing macular degeneration (AMD) when aspirin was used daily.

The study was based on a questionnaire given to 2,389 Australians over a 15 year period.

The scientists found that, even with age, sex, smoking, heart disease history, high blood pressure, and body mass index, those people who used aspirin regularly had a greater risk of developing advanced AMD. 9.3% of those using aspirin on a regular basis developed advanced AMD compared to 3.7% who did not.

Researchers: Liew G, Mitchell P, Wong TY, et al.

Published: The association of aspirin use with age-related macular degeneration. Journal of American Medical Association Internal Medicine. 2013;173(4):258-64.