An Evaluation of Aspirin Treatment Preferences of Physicians in Hypertensive Patients in Terms of Current Guidelines: A Subgroup Analysis of the ASSOS Trial in Turkey

Background: The Appropriateness of Aspirin Use in Medical Outpatients: A Multicenter, Observational Study trial has been the largest study ever conducted among patients in Turkey regarding aspirin treatment. In the subgroup analysis of the hypertensive group of the Appropriateness of Aspirin Use in Medical Outpatients: A Multicenter, Observational Study trial, we aimed to evaluate the physicians' adherence to current guidelines regarding their aspirin treatment preferences. Methods: The Appropriateness of Aspirin Use in Medical Outpatients: A Multicenter, Observational Study trial is a cross-sectional and multicenter study conducted among 5007 consecutive patients aged ≥18 years. The study population consisted of outpatients on aspirin treatment (80-300 mg). The patient data were obtained from 30 different cardiology clinics of 14 cities from all over Turkey. In this subgroup analysis, patients were divided into 2 groups: the hypertensive group (n=3467, 69.3%) and the group without hypertension (n=1540, 30.7%) according to the 2018 European Society of Cardiology/ European Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension. Results: Aspirin use for primary prevention was higher in patients with hypertension compared to patients without hypertension [328 (21.3%); 1046 (30.2%); P