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Contrary to popular practise, a new study claims daily dose of aspirin may not cut risk of heart problems in elderly.

The study included 14,000 Japanese aged between 60 to 85 years. Aspirin was prescribed for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Researchers tracked the subjects and compared them with a group of people with similar risks who did not take aspirin, CBS News reported.

The study showed no difference in risks of fatal or non-fatal heart event deaths between the two groups.

"Once-daily, low-dose aspirin did not significantly reduce the risk of the composite outcome of cardiovascular death, nonfatal stroke, and nonfatal myocardial infarction among Japanese patients 60 years or older with atherosclerotic risk factors," researchers wrote.

Researchers however said aspirin users should not immediately get off medication before consulting their doctors about risks and benefits.

The study's co-author Dr Michael Gaziano said the benefits of aspirin in long haul should be considered. He also pointed out limitations in the study including the difference in the nature of heart diseases in Japanese and Americans.

"Japanese tend to have fewer heart attacks and more strokes, particularly more hemorrhagic strokes. In this study they had many more strokes than heart attacks, which is not something you'd see in a U.S. population," Gaziano said according to CBS News.

Researchers also wrote that other benefits of aspirin including prevention of cancer, should be considered.

"Despite inconsistent evidence for the benefit of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events, the benefits in secondary prevention are well documented, including in Japanese patients. There is also a growing body of evidence to suggest benefits for aspirin in the prevention of colorectal and other cancers and the prevention of cancer recurrence, including in the Japanese population. Reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer may influence the overall benefit-risk profile of aspirin," they wrote.  

The findings of the study have been published in The Journal of American Medical Association.