2 Blood Thinners Equal for Heart Failure

Aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin) are equally effective in preventing strokes and death for many people with heart failure, a new study finds. The study included 2,300 people with severe heart failure. All of them had a normal heart rhythm. They were randomly assigned to take either aspirin or warfarin daily. These drugs help to prevent blood clots that can cause strokes. Researchers kept track of people for up to 6 years. In that time about 7.5% of those taking warfarin died or had a stroke or bleeding in the brain. The rate was 7.9% for people who took aspirin. Researchers said that difference was small enough to be caused by chance. The risk of stroke was nearly 50% lower in those who took warfarin. But they were twice as likely to have bleeding as those who took aspirin. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it May 2.