journal articles
LONG-TERM ASPIRIN USE AND SELFREPORTED WALKING SPEED IN OLDER MEN: THE PHYSICIANS’ HEALTH STUDY
A.R. Orkaby, A.B. Dufour, L. Yang, H.D. Sesso, J.M. Gaziano, L. Djousse, J.A. Driver, T.G. Travison
J Frailty Aging 2022;11(1)12-17
Background: Mobility limitation is a component of frailty that shares a bidirectional relationship with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Data are limited on the role of established CVD prevention therapies, such as aspirin, for prevention of frailty and mobility limitation.
Objectives: Examine the association between long-term aspirin use and walking speed.
Design, Setting, Participants: Prospective cohort of 14,315 men who participated in the Physicians’ Health Study I, a completed randomized controlled trial of aspirin (1982-1988), with extended post-trial follow-up.
Measurements: Annual questionnaires collected data on aspirin use, lifestyle and other factors. Average annual aspirin use was categorized for each participant: ≤60 days/year and >60 days/year. Mobility was defined according to self-reported walking pace, categorized as: don’t walk regularly (reference), easy/casual <2mph, normal ≥2-2.9mph, or brisk/very brisk ≥3mph. Propensity scoring balanced covariates between aspirin categories. Multinomial logistic regression models estimated odds of being in each self-reported walking category.
Results: Mean age was 70±8 years; mean aspirin use 11 years. There were 2,056 (14.3%) participants who reported aspirin use ≤60 days/year. Aspirin use >60 days/year was associated with drinking alcohol, smoking, hypertension, heart disease and stroke, while ≤60 days/year was associated with anticoagulation use and bleeding history. In all, 13% reported not walking regularly, 12% walked <2 mph, 44% walked ≥2-2.9 mph, and 31% walked ≥3 mph. After propensity score adjustment, regular aspirin use was associated with a faster walking speed. Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.16 (0.97 to 1.39), 1.24 (1.08 to 1.43), and 1.40 (1.21 to 1.63) for <2 mph, ≥2-2.9 mph and ≥3 mph, respectively, compared to not walking regularly (p-trend<0.001).
Conclusions: In this cohort of older men, long-term aspirin use is associated with a greater probability of faster walking speed later in life.
CITATION:
A.R. Orkaby ; A.B. Dufour ; L. Yang ; H.D. Sesso ; J.M. Gaziano ; L. Djousse ; J.A. Driver ; T.G. Travison (2021): Long-Term Aspirin Use and Self-Reported Walking Speed in Older Men: The Physicians’ Health Study. The Journal of Frailty and Aging (JFA). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2021.36