He theorizes that the findings for women might "not differ qualitatively, but we want to see the net health-benefit ratio for aspirin and heart attacks."

Instructor in Medicine Joann E. Manson '75, who is also working on the Women's Health Study with Hennekens, ran a survey of aspirin effects on women in 1980.

But Manson's experiment lacked the formality of Hennekens's study of men and was consequently less conclusive, she says.

Manson had tracked the health of 87,000 nurses for six years, some of whom used aspirin on a weekly basis and some of whom did not.

When the health of both groups were compared, the findings suggested that women over 50 who used one to six aspirin per week had reduced the risks of having a first heart attack by over 30 percent.

The study did not have strong validity for procedural reasons, says Manson. Since it only was a survey, it lacked formality and control of biases. "We need a randomized trial in an experimental study to provide conclusive evidence," Manson says.

Manson adds that it was uncertain whether the results of the new study would agree with her previous findings. "It's hard to say. But we expect some benefit to prevent heart attacks," she says.

Despite the seemingly positive relationship between aspirin use and reduced heart attacks, Manson warns people not to jump on the bandwagon too hastily. "No one should take aspirin regularly without consulting a physician," she says.