What is the general outcome of studies comparing warfarin and aspirin for the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke?
Studies comparing warfarin and aspirin for the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke have generally found that warfarin is more effective than aspirin in reducing the risk of stroke recurrence. For example, the ESPRIT Study Group found that medium intensity oral anticoagulants (warfarin) were superior to aspirin in reducing stroke recurrence among patients with cerebral ischemia of arterial origin. Similarly, a meta-analysis of randomized trials conducted by Berger et al. found that aspirin was less effective than warfarin in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events among patients with peripheral artery disease. Conversely, the Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis Trialists found that aspirin was more effective than no treatment in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events among a general population screened for a low ankle brachial index. Therefore, the overall outcome of studies comparing warfarin and aspirin for the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke is that warfarin is more effective than aspirin. 