阿司匹林是制药行业的基础药物，最初是作为镇痛/抗炎剂，但偶然发现可用作主要不良心血管事件 (MACE) 的预防药物。它在后一个角色中的现代效用取决于其在当代人群中的功效/安全性平衡，至少在高收入国家，年龄标准化的 MACE 发病率正在下降，并且现在存在竞争性治疗药物。它的未来可能取决于它作为癌症或其他疾病状态的化学预防剂或辅助剂的潜在作用。因此，它将继续成为进一步临床研究的主题。© 作者（或其雇主）2024。禁止商业重复使用。请参阅权利和权限。英国医学杂志出版。

Aspirin is a foundation drug of the pharmaceutical industry originally derived as an analgesic/anti-inflammatory agent but serendipitously discovered to have use as a prophylactic drug for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Its modern-day utility in this latter role relies on its efficacy/safety balance in a contemporary population where, at least in high-income countries, age-standardised incident rates for MACE are falling, and where there are now competing therapeutic agents. Its future may be determined by its potential role as a chemoprophylactic or adjunct agent for cancer or other disease states. It therefore will continue to be the subject of further clinical research.© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.