Background: Aspirin is considered one of the most prescribed drugs worldwide, predominantly for its cardioprotective effects. However, its use may be precluded by gastrointestinal and haematological side-effects.
Objective: To investigate the association between the prophylactic use of aspirin and the prevalence of anaemia among adults. Other demographic factors and co-morbid conditions such as kidney or liver failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, ulcer, ulcer medications, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which might be associated with anaemia, were also investigated.
Results: No association between aspirin use and prevalence of anaemia was observed. Age and smoking were the only factors contributing significantly to the occurrence of anaemia. Moreover, gender, age and the use of peptic ulcer medication were associated with reduced haemoglobin levels.
Conclusion: The results may help in minimizing concerns about the development of anaemia among patients on aspirin. They highlight the importance of age, gender, smoking and ulcer medication in determining the incidence of anaemia among those patients.