A new study by Mass General Brigham has recently revealed that regular aspirin use may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with higher lifestyle-related risk factors. It can potentially promote a more comprehensive approach to preventive aspirin use.
The National Cancer Institute reports that colorectal cancer ranks second in the United States as the leading cause of death related to cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended daily low-dose aspirin for adults aged 50-59 to prevent cardiovascular events and colorectal cancer. But later they withdrew this recommendation in 2016 due to concerns about gastrointestinal bleeding.
In this study, researchers used health data from 107,655 participants from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. They wanted to compare colorectal cancer rates among those who took aspirin regularly to those who did not take aspirin regularly. They defined regular aspirin use as two or more standard dose tablets per week or daily low-dose aspirin.
When researchers observed the data carefully, they found that regular aspirin use significantly reduced the 10-year cumulative incidence of colorectal cancer in participants, with a 1.98% incidence as compared to 2.95% among those who did not take aspirin.
Researchers also found that those with unhealthiest lifestyles had the highest risk of colorectal cancer, with a 3.4% chance of developing the disease if they didn’t take regular aspirin. People with the highest healthy lifestyle scores had a 1.5% risk. On the other hand, people with the least healthy lifestyle had a 1.6% risk. Their lifestyle scores were calculated by analyzing some factors such as body mass index, physical activity, adherence to a healthy diet and alcohol and cigarette use.
One of the researchers said that this study has found that aspirin can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with multiple risk factors. But people with a healthier lifestyle had a lower baseline risk. It indicates that aspirin’s benefits were less pronounced.
The study did not look at possible side effects of taking aspirin regularly such as bleeding. This study also tried to compare groups with the same risk factors for colorectal cancer.
The results, published in JAMA Oncology, show that regular aspirin use can effectively reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in people with healthy lifestyles. Hence, healthcare professionals should consider these findings and suggest taking aspirin regularly to those with less healthy lifestyles. This study is very important as it can effectively reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and save many lives.
Reference Link:
Aspirin Use and Incidence of Colorectal Cancer According to Lifestyle Risk, JAMA Oncology (2024).
