Aspirin use may slow development of early emphysema

DENVER — The use of aspirin for at least 3 days per week slowed the progression of early emphysema, according to study results presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.“Other than smoking cessation and avoidance, there are no known methods for reducing the risk of developing emphysema,” Carrie P. Aaron, MD, of Columbia University Medical Center, said in a press release. “In our large general population sample, we found that regular aspirin use was associated with a slower progression of percent emphysema on computed tomography scans over 10 years.”