The association between low‐dose aspirin use and the incidence of colorectal cancer: a nationwide cohort study. Issue 4 (25th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, W.‐K.; Chiou, M.‐J.; Yu, K.‐H.; Lin, Y.‐C.; Yang, T.‐S.; Chen, J.‐S.; Kuo, C.‐F.; See, L.‐C.
• Is Part Of: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. Volume 38:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 432
• Page End: 439
• Publication Date: 2013-06-25
• Subjects: Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Effect of drugs on -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Effect of drugs on -- Periodicals; 615.73
• DOI: 10.1111/apt.12388
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2813

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Considerable evidence suggests that aspirin has a chemopreventive effect on colorectal cancer (CRC). However, optimal dose and treatment duration have not been defined, and data on the effects of low‐dose aspirin are contradictory. Aim: To determine if the incidence of CRC in patients with low‐dose aspirin use was lower than in those without aspirin use. Method: From Taiwan's National Health Insurance research database, aspirin users ( n = 1985) were defined as adults (age ≥20 years) with at least 3.5 years of regular low‐dose aspirin use (50–150 mg per day) between 1998 and 2002. Non‐users ( n = 7940) were those who did not use aspirin and were matched 4:1 with the user group by age, gender, date of ambulatory care (index date), and presence of known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia). Follow‐up of the two study groups was made until the end of 2010, and incidences and hazard ratios of colorectal cancer were determined. Results: During a median follow‐up period of 8.9 years, 129 non‐users and 14 users developed CRC, corresponding to incidence rates of 180.43 and 79.42 per 100 000 person‐years respectively. Duration of aspirin use among users ranged from 3.5 to 12.6 years (mean 8.7 years). The multivariate‐adjusted hazard ratio for CRC was 0.5 (95% confidence interval 0.28–0.87) among users as compared with non‐users. Conclusions: Long‐term use of low‐dose aspirin appears to be associated with a lower incidence of CRC in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Further randomised clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings.