Aspirin and the risk of intracranial complications following head injury

Date First Published:

November 12, 2003

Last Updated:

November 12, 2003

Report by:

Magdy Sakr, Consultant in Emergency Medicine (University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire)

Search checked by:

Libby Wilson, University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire

Three-Part Question:

In [adults with head injury] does [pre-injury aspirin] adversely [affect clinical outcome]?

Clinical Scenario:

A 65 year old man on aspirin presents to the emergency department having fallen sustaining a minor head injury. You wonder whether he is at higher risk of intracranial bleeding due to aspirin.

Search Strategy:

Medline using the OVID interface 1966- August Week 4 2005 Embase 1980–2005 week 37
The Cochrane Library Issue 3 2005

Search Details:

Medline: [exp brain injuries/ OR brain injur$.mp. OR exp craniocerebral trauma/ OR head injur$.mp.] AND [exp aspirin/ OR aspirin.mp. OR exp acetylsalicylic acid/ OR antithromb$.mp.] Limit to humans and English

Embase: [craniocerebral trauma.mp. OR exp Head Injury/ OR exp Brain Injury/ OR brain injur$.mp] AND [aspirin.mp. or exp Acetylsalicylic Acid/ OR antithrom$.mp] LIMIT to Human, English Language and (adult <18 to 64 years> or aged <65+ years>)

The Cochrane Library: Exp Aspirin [MeSH] AND exp brain injuries [MeSH] OR exp craniocerebral trauma [MeSH]

Outcome:

Altogether 103 were found in Medline and 104 in Embase. Three were relevant to the three part question, these are shown in the table below:

Relevant Paper(s):

Study Title	Patient Group	Study type (level of evidence)	Outcomes	Key results	Study Weaknesses
Aspirin as a risk factor for haemorrhage in patients with head injuries. Reymond MA. Marbet G. Radu EW. Gratzl O. 1992, Switzerland	189 patients with severe head injury	Retrospective Risk analysis	Chronic subdural haematoma	Aspirin is a risk factor for chronic subdural haematoma	Retrospective nature of the study
Intracranial complications of preinjury anticoagulation in trauma patients with head injury. Mina AA. Knipfer JF. Park DY. Bair HA et al. 2002, USA	37 patients admitted with intracranial injury on anticoagulants 37 case matched patients	Retrospective case controlled	Mortality due to head injury	Higher percentage of those on aspirin than any other anticoagulant died	Retrospective, Subgroup analysis, and small sample size
Low –dose aspirin prophylaxis and risk of intracranial hemorrhage in patients older than 60 years of age with mild or moderate head injury: a prospective study. Spektor S. Agus S. Merkin V. Constantini S. 2003, Israel	Mild (GCS13-15) and moderate (GCS 9-12) head injuries in 231 patients >60 years old. 110 of which were on aspirin therapy	Prospective cohort study	Intracranial haemorrhage	No difference in frequency or type of ICH whether on aspirin or not	Small sample size. Mild & moderate injuries included

Author Commentary:

There was conflicting evidence that prior chronic use of aspirin increases the risk of intracranial haemorrhage following minor head injury. However, there is some evidence to suggest that there is increased risk of chronic subdural haemorrhage. A well designed prospective cohort study with adequate sample size and follow up is needed to address such important and common problem.

Bottom Line:

Pre-injury aspirin may increase the risk of intracranial complications following head injury. More research is needed.

References:

Reymond MA. Marbet G. Radu EW. Gratzl O.. Aspirin as a risk factor for haemorrhage in patients with head injuries.
Mina AA. Knipfer JF. Park DY. Bair HA et al.. Intracranial complications of preinjury anticoagulation in trauma patients with head injury.
Spektor S. Agus S. Merkin V. Constantini S.. Low –dose aspirin prophylaxis and risk of intracranial hemorrhage in patients older than 60 years of age with mild or moderate head injury: a prospective study.