Major GI bleeding in older persons using aspirin: incidence and risk factors in the ASPREE randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveThere is a lack of robust data on significant gastrointestinal bleeding in older people using aspirin. We calculated the incidence, risk factors and absolute risk using data from a large randomised, controlled trial.DesignData were extracted from an aspirin versus placebo primary prevention trial conducted throughout 2010–2017 (‘ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE)’, n=19 114) in community-dwelling persons aged ≥70 years. Clinical characteristics were collected at baseline and annually. The endpoint was major GI bleeding that resulted in transfusion, hospitalisation, surgery or death, adjudicated independently by two physicians blinded to trial arm.ResultsOver a median follow-up of 4.7 years (88 389 person years), there were 137 upper GI bleeds (89 in aspirin arm and 48 in placebo arm, HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.66, p