Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARs)



Benefits of aspirin (continued)

Day of TIA/minor stroke < 7 days 7 days – 30 days 30 days – 6 months 6 months – 1 year
Risk of stroke without aspirin 0 10 15 20 25
Risk of stroke with aspirin 0 8 12 16 20
Number prevented in period 0 2 1 1 1
Cumulative number prevented 0 2 3 4 5

Answer the following questions about risk of stroke. In 100 stroke patients:

What is the risk of stroke in the first year on aspirin?

1 in 5

What is the risk of stroke in the first year without aspirin?

25%

How many patients who would otherwise have had a stroke avoid a stroke because of the aspirin in the first year?

5

What is the relative risk reduction associated with aspirin treatment over the first year?

20%

How many patients need to be treated for the first week to prevent a stroke?

50

During which time period will aspirin have greatest benefits in terms of strokes prevented per day of taking aspirin?

7 days

Page last reviewed: 08 May 2020