Risk of neovascular AMD unrelated to aspirin intake

In this large retrospective analysis, investigators from South Korea investigated the association between long-term use of low-dose aspirin and neovascular AMD.

Study design

This was a population-based study using a nationwide cohort of 482,613 individuals from a variety of clinics and hospitals in South Korea. Long-term regular use of low-dose aspirin was defined as sustained intake of 100 mg or less of aspirin with more than 1,044 days prescription between 2005 and 2009. Nonregular aspirin users included occasional users or nonusers.

Outcomes

Over the 5-year study period, the analysis uncovered a higher incidence of neovascular AMD among regular aspirin user compared with nonregular users (7.2 vs. 3.5 per 10,000 person-years). After adjustment for variables of age, sex, income, residential area and history of 100 randomly selected types of generic drugs, there was no significant association between aspirin intake and AMD (HR 0.95)

Limitations

The analysis did not take into account previously reported risk factors for neovascular AMD such as smoking, or use of other antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel.

Clinical significance

The authors conclude aspirin use to be safe with respect to AMD development.