Aspirin

More Support for Long-Term, Daily Aspirin Use

For average-risk individuals (age 50-65), taking aspirin for 10 years equaled a 7% in women and 9% in men reduction in the number of cancer, myocardial infraction, or stroke events over a 15-year period and an overall 4% risk in deaths over a 20-year period.

“It has long been known that aspirin—one of the cheapest and most common drugs on the market—can protect against certain types of cancer. But…it was unclear whether the pros of taking aspirin outweighed the cons,” said Jack Cuzick, PhD, one of the study’s authors and head of the Queen Mary University of London’s Center for Cancer Prevention.
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In a review of evidence from studies and clinical trials assessing the use of aspirin, researchers found:

  • Taking aspirin for 10 years reduces prevalence of bowl cancer cases by 35% and deaths by 40%.
  • Taking aspirin for 10 years reduces the rates of oesophageal and stomach cancers by 30% and deaths by 35% to 50%.

Evidence suggests that a daily aspirin dose of 75 mg to 100 mg for at least 5 years (preferably 10 years) between the ages of 50 and 65 yield the best results. No benefits were reported within the first 3 years of taking aspirin and death rates were only reduced after 5 years.

However, long-term use of aspirin increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. In individuals 60 years or older, taking aspirin for 10 years increased the risk of stomach bleeding from 2.2% to 3.6%, and was life-threatening in less than 5% of these subjects.

Rates of serious or fatal gastrointestinal bleeding were low under the age of 70 but increased sharply thereafter. The risk of peptic ulcers also increased from 30% to 60%.

Recommended daily doses of aspirin varied between 75 mg/d and 325 mg/d per study.

The complete study is published in the July issue of Annals of Oncology.

-Michelle Canales

References:

Cuzick J, Thorat MA, Bosetti C, et al. Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population. Ann Oncol. 2014 August [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu225.

Queen Mary University of London. Aspirin: scientists believe cancer prevention benefits outweigh harms. August 5, 2014. www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/items/smd/137377.html?utm_source=Homepage&utm_medium=Shoutbox&utm_campaign=Slide1. Accessed August 6, 2014.