It is with great excitement that I write a foreword for an outstanding new issue of Hot Topics in Cardiology. Almost ironically, our “hot” topic is on one of the oldest medicines in the world. But this is true, we have hot new information on the role of aspirin in novel populations. This past year has been one with much discussion of influenza, both the usual seasonal influenza, but also a novel H1N1 strain. Could aspirin have a role in influenza? I would not have thought so (being a cardiologist, and not having thought too much about influenza), but Webb and Rothwell have written a superb summary of a great deal of evidence supporting a role for aspirin in prevention of cardiovascular events during influenza outbreaks. It is exciting reading!
Another population where we do not immediately think of aspirin is with hypertensive patients. Indeed, we might actually worry a bit. However, here too there is a substantial evidence base supporting the role of aspirin for cardiovascular prevention, as capably presented by Beygui and Montalescot. For me, this has reinforced the notion that we need broad cardiovascular prevention for patients with cardiovascular risk—and should not be focused on a single risk factor.
Finally, we have an in-depth review of the vast amount of evidence supporting aspirin in prevention of strokes. There have been many trials attempting to go beyond aspirin monotherapy, and not with the greatest successes, but Weber, Diener, and Busch provide all the latest data in this very hot field.
It is thus with great pleasure that I invite you to read this issue of Hot Topics in Cardiology.