An international scientific meeting on aspirin is needed

• aspirin

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is inexpensive and widely used to treat numerous common conditions. Perhaps its most important use now is the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. As with all medicines, there are undesirable effects to its use, most notably gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding. Low dose aspirin is comparatively safe, however, and in the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk the potential benefit must be balanced against potential risk.

Observational epidemiological studies suggest that the regular use of aspirin may lead …