Studies have shown that aspirin, a commonly used painkiller, is linked to reductions in heart attacks and strokes, but it can irirtate the stomach and cause serious internal bleeding particularly in elderly people.
According to a new Oxford Univeristy study, published in The Lancet last week, taking a daily low dose of aspirin for reduced cancer deaths during and after the trials and the benefit increased with duration of treatment.
The researchers examined the data of 8 trials that looked at the effects of daily dose of aspirin on preventing heart attacks involving over 25,000 people. They found that aspirin reduced cancer deaths by 20% during the trial, but after 5 years, death rates were 34% lower for all cancer deaths. They also found the risk of all cancer deaths over a period of 20 years remained 20% lower for those who had taken aspirin, about 40% for bowel cancer, 30% for lung cancer, 10% for prostate cancer and 60% for oesophageal cancer. But there were not enough women participants to determine if daily aspirin could reduce breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer deaths.
The lead researcher said this study confirms the results of the previous study that found aspirin has preventive effect against cancer and has demonstrated a major new benefit of the drug. He believes that the findings have implications for guidelines on use of aspirin and the most benefit would be seen for those start taking aspirin between the age of 40 - 50 and continue for 25 years.
The previous study by the same authors, also published in The Lancet in October 2010, showed that a low dose of aspirin, 75mg per day taken for several years, reduced deaths due to colorectal cancer. However, opinions were divided on the result of the study.
Some said that the study did not give a balanced view of the effect of the treatment because it did not report the potential harms. The protective effects against cardiovascular disease were thought to be small for healthy adults. Some advised that aspirin should not be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in "healthy" people as the risks outweigh potential benefits. Others said more research is needed before recommending taking aspirin to reduce cancer deaths.
Source: Rothwell PM, Fowkes FGR, Belch JFF, et al. Effect of daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer: analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials. The Lancet. 2010 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print] Online publication 7 December 2010 ( f/t via Athens)
Previous studies :
Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Elwin C-E et al. Long-term effect of aspirin on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality: 20-year follow-up of five randomised trials. The Lancet 2010, Early Online Publication, October 22 (f/t via Athens)
Benamouzig R, Uz B. Aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer: time to act? The Lancet 20110, Early Online Publication, 22 October (f/t via Athens)
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