Discovery Health CME Explores the Benefits and Risks of Aspirin in Aspirin Therapy: Maximizing the Benefits

Discovery Health CME Explores the Benefits and Risks of Aspirin in Aspirin Therapy: Maximizing the Benefits

- Renowned physicians provide viewers with important information on the use of aspirin in the prevention of initial and subsequent heart attacks and strokes -

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Health CME presents an expert discussion on aspirin and its use in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebral-vascular events. Premiering Sunday, September 30, at 9 AM (ET/PT) on Discovery Health, ASPIRIN THERAPY: MAXIMIZING THE BENEFITS provides viewers with the latest on the benefits and the risks of this widely available medicine.

"There are good data regarding the use of aspirin in the prevention of vascular events," says John Whyte, M.D., M.P.H., vice president of CME, Discovery Health. "Yet despite these data, aspirin continues to be underutilized in patients who are at risk of initial or repeat heart attacks and strokes," he adds.

Many national organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and the American Diabetes Association, recommend aspirin therapy for patients at risk of heart attack and stroke, and the National Quality Forum and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations use "aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular events" as a quality measure. Even so, recent surveys demonstrate that many appropriate patients don't receive it.

Evidence presented in the program will demonstrate that when used appropriately, aspirin can prevent 32 percent of new myocardial infarctions and 15 percent of all vascular events. Additionally, the medicine can prevent a third of all repeat heart attacks, a quarter of repeat strokes and one-sixth of all vascular deaths. The risks of aspirin use, including gastrointestinal bleeding and aspirin resistance, are discussed as well.

In addition to the clinical benefits, the program details the significant pharmacoeconomic advantages associated with widespread adoption of aspirin therapy. Charles Hennekens, M.D., Dr.P.H., states that "the annual cost to save a life using aspirin is a mere $13.00, compared to costs with prescription drugs that are exponentially higher. What we have here is serious clinical evidence to support the medical economics." He suspects that "if aspirin were half as effective, 10 times as expensive and on prescriptions, perhaps it would be more widely and appropriately utilized."

ASPIRIN THERAPY: MAXIMIZING THE BENEFITS features an outstanding panel of leading authorities on preventive medicine and internal medicine:

-- Charles Hennekens of the Department of Clinical Science and Medical
Education & Center of Excellence at Florida Atlantic University,
voluntary professor of medicine & epidemiology and public health at
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and clinical professor of
Preventive Medicine, NOVA Southeastern University
-- Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director of the NYU Women's Heart Program
and associate professor of medicine at New York University School of
Medicine
-- Michael Pignone, M.D., M.P.H., division chief and associate professor,
Division of General Internal Medicine & Epidemiology, University of
North Carolina School of Medicine

"We are pleased to be able to provide an esteemed panel of physicians to discuss these data. It is our hope that this resource will give medical professionals the knowledge to ultimately improve the utilization of this low- cost, high-benefit medicine," said Dr. Whyte.

This Discovery Health CME program and others are available to physicians on a variety of platforms to fit their individual needs. Physicians and other health care professionals can watch the programs on Discovery Health every Saturday and Sunday at 8 AM and 9 AM (ET/PT). Discovery Health CME programs are also available at http://www.discoveryhealthcme.com/, where medical professionals can watch programs online, download an audio or video podcast or order a free DVD.

Building on Discovery Health's long-standing partnerships with some of the country's leading physicians and medical institutions, Discovery Health CME goes beyond static journal articles and lecture presentations to deliver up- to-date scientific findings that help physicians keep abreast of current standards of care. Using medical experts from across the country who address the health issues facing patients today, Discovery Health delivers the highest-quality CME with a focus on providing practical guidance that helps physicians in their everyday practice to improve the health and well-being of patients.

About Discovery Health CME

Since its launch in 2004, Discovery Health CME has offered innovative, flexible opportunities for physicians and licensed health professionals to earn free continuing medical education credit. The program incorporates the production quality and expertise of Discovery Communications, the clinical expertise of the nation's leading authorities on some of today's most relevant CME topics, the reach of the Discovery Health Television network and a user- friendly Web site for physicians and health professionals, DiscoveryHealthCME.com.

About Discovery Health Media Enterprises

Discovery Health Media Enterprises includes the Discovery Health and FitTV television networks and online assets including http://www.discoveryhealth.com/, as well as its Continuing Medical Education (CME) business and Discovery's first stand-alone VOD service, Discovery Health On-Call. Discovery Health Media Enterprises is part of Discovery Communications, the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Through TV and digital media, Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks include Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and HD Theater. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information please visit http://www.discoverycommunications.com/ .

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Discovery Health CME

CONTACT: Lynn Cantwell, +1-240-662-4564, Lynn_Cantwell-CW@Discovery.com,
or Chris Finnegan, +1-240-662-7589, Chris_Finnegan@Discovery.com, both of
Discovery Health CME

Web site:

http://www.discovery.com/
http://www.discoveryhealth.com/
http://www.discoverycommunications.com/

-------
Profile: intent