Summary
The effects on the haemoglobin level of low dose aspirin and of low intensity oral
anticoagulation with warfarin separately and in combination have been established
in men aged between 45 and 69 at high risk of ischaemic heart disease. The findings
confirm that combined treatment with warfarin and aspirin (WA) leads to a clear excess
of minor bleeding episodes over warfarin alone (W) or aspirin alone (A). Each separate
treatment on its own (either W or A) leads to an increase in these episodes compared
with those on placebo (P) treatment. However, neither combined treatment (WA) nor
the separate treatments (W or A) cause a fall in haemoglobin levels over a period
of up to two years.
