Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly eXTension (ASPREE-XT)

ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) was a joint US/Australian randomized clinical trial aiming to determine whether low-dose aspirin increases healthy life-span, defined as survival free of dementia and disability. ASPREE began in 2010 and completed recruitment in 2014. It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, primary prevention trial of daily 100 mg of aspirin in older people free of cardiovascular disease, dementia and physical disability in the United States (US) and Australia with a period of follow-up averaging 4.5 years. ASPREE's primary outcome was duration of survival free of dementia and persistent physical disability and had secondary outcomes encompassing the major health issues related to aging. The trial involving 19,114 persons aged 70 and above (65 years and above for US minorities) is distinctive for its large size, methodological rigor and high participant retention rate in both countries. ASPREE-XT is a post-treatment, longitudinal observational follow-up study of ASPREE participants that began in January 2018. This enables the monitoring of possible legacy effects of aspirin treatment, primarily on cancer incidence, metastases and mortality. In addition, the large well-characterized cohort with extended follow-up and a range of health outcomes provides a unique opportunity to study health and resilience in older individuals.