A secondary analysis of the ASPREE randomized clinical trial, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, found that low-dose daily aspirin does not significantly impact the incidence or progression of AMD in older adults. The ASPREE-AMD study, an Australian-based substudy of the ASPREE trial, included 3,171 participants aged ≥70 years who were free from dementia, independence-limiting physical disabilities, cardiovascular diseases, or chronic illnesses limiting 5-year survival. Participants were randomized to receive either 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin or a placebo daily.

Retinal photography was conducted at baseline and at 3 and 5 years post-randomization to assess AMD status using color retinal images and treatment records. The study found no significant difference in the incidence of AMD between the aspirin and placebo groups, with AMD developing in 19.4% of participants in the aspirin group and 19.1% in the placebo group (relative risk [RR], 1.02; 95% CI, 0.85-1.22; P = .86). Progression from early/intermediate to late AMD was observed in 2.3% of the aspirin group and 3.1% of the placebo group (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.36-1.44; P = .36).

These findings indicate that low-dose aspirin, administered over 3 years, does not prevent the development or progression of AMD, the researchers noted. They also pointed out a weaker association for AMD progression due to the low number of progressed cases. “Overall, these results do not support the suggestion that low-dose daily aspirin prevents the development or progression of AMD,” they concluded.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.