A US government expert panel on October 12 said it no longer recommends a daily dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people aged 60 and over.

People aged 40-59 who are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease but have no history of it, should consult with their doctor and make an individual decision on whether to start taking the medicine.

The statement was a major reversal in the US medical field, where taking aspirin daily is a widespread practice. The medication thins blood, helping prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Since 2016, the Preventive Services Task Force, a US government medical expert panel, has recommended a daily dose of aspirin for people in their 50s who have a 10 per cent or greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.

On October 12, experts said that aspirin’s benefits were not enough to offset the increased risk of bleeding, especially in the brain or intestines, in older people.

These new recommendations are not yet final. They will be open to public debate until early November.