FYI from the NHLBI Index
June 2005: Vol. 6, Issue 1 Feature Articles
Director Shared Vision with PIOs
Women's Health Study Reports Findings on Low-Dose Aspirin
Director Shared Vision with PIOs
Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, Director, NHLBI, shared her vision for the Institute’s
future with representatives from public interest organizations (PIOs) at the
sixth annual PIO meeting. The February 8-9 event provided Dr. Nabel with an
opportunity to meet and visit with PIO representatives as one of her first official
duties as Director.
Dr. Nabel spoke about her active clinical practice before joining the NHLBI
and noted that her interactions with patients strongly influenced her research.
She emphasized that she is delighted with the prospect of working with the PIOs:
“I cannot state strongly enough the importance of our working relationship,
going forward, to achieve our common goals.”
Dr. Nabel expressed her commitment to supporting investigator-initiated research,
reducing health disparities, and encouraging young investigators. Additionally,
she said, the NHLBI will focus its efforts on:
- Stimulating the discovery of causes of disease
- Speeding the translation of these new discoveries to clinical applications
- Facilitating communication between scientists and physicians, and
- Communicating advances to the public.
Other speakers included Dr. Stephen Groft, Director, Office of Rare Diseases,
NIH, who discussed program activities of the ORD and Ms. Wendy Chaite, member,
NIH Director’s Council of Public Representatives, who provided an overview
of the Council’s activities. Dr. Sally Shumaker, a clinical center director
of the NIH Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), spoke about “clinical
trials and tribulations” and Dr. Gene Gary-Williams, a WHI volunteer,
shared her perspective on her experience as a study participant. During the
meeting, PIO representatives had the opportunity to meet with NHLBI program
staff, attend scientific sessions, and participate in roundtable discussions.
The NHLBI appreciates the feedback and suggestions it has received about the
meeting. In response to requests for more information about upcoming NHLBI workshops
and working groups, we added a list to the FYI (see Upcoming NHLBI Workshops and Working Groups), with an understanding that PIO representatives will be accommodated
on a space-available basis and will be responsible for their own travel expenses.
The NHLBI staff members listed may be contacted for more information.
Women's Health Study Reports Findings on Low-Dose Aspirin
Although aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of a first heart attack
in men, until recently its effectiveness in women was uncertain. The Women’s
Health Study, supported by the NHLBI, is the only large clinical trial to study
the use of low-dose aspirin (100 mg on alternate days) to prevent heart attack
and stroke in women. The 10-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study, which was conducted among nearly 40,000 healthy women age 45 and older,
found that aspirin did not prevent first heart attacks or death from cardiovascular
causes. Indeed, aspirin users experienced only 9 percent fewer major cardiovascular
events than non-users, a difference that was not statistically significant.
However, the stroke rate was 17 percent lower in those taking aspirin, a statistically
significant difference. The greatest benefit was in women age 65 and older for
whom aspirin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 26 percent.
Dr. Nabel summed up the results saying: “The bottom line is that many
women, especially those 65 and older, may benefit from taking low-dose aspirin
every other day to prevent stroke. But it is important for women to weigh the
risk and benefits of taking aspirin and to consult with their doctor. Above
all, women, like men, should adopt the well-proven approaches that reduce the
risk of heart disease – eating for heart health, getting regular physical
activity, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and controlling high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, and diabetes.”
Please send us your feedback, comments, and questions by using the appropriate link on the page, Contact the NHLBI.
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