New research from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
reveals taking aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of developing – and
dying from – the major cancers of the digestive tract, i.e. bowel, stomach and
oesophageal cancer.
For the first time, scientists have reviewed all the available
evidence from many studies and clinical trials assessing both the benefits and
harms of preventive use of aspirin. Conclusions of the study, funded by Cancer
Research UK among others, are published August 5, 2014 in the leading cancer
journal Annals of Oncology*.
The researchers, led by Professor Jack Cuzick, Head of QMUL's
Centre for Cancer Prevention (London, UK), found taking aspirin for 10 years
could cut bowel cancer cases by around 35% and deaths by 40%. Rates of
oesophageal and stomach cancers were cut by 30% and deaths from these cancers
by 35-50%.
To reap the benefits of aspirin, the evidence shows people
need to start taking a daily dose of 75-100 mg for at least five years and
probably 10 years between the ages of 50 and 65. No benefit was seen whilst
taking aspirin for the first three years, and death rates were only reduced
after five years.
However, the research also warns taking aspirin long-term
increases the risk of bleeding from the digestive tract, e.g. stomach bleeding.
Amongst 60-year-old individuals who take daily aspirin for 10 years, the risk
of digestive tract bleeds increases from 2.2% to 3.6%, and this could be
life-threatening in a very small proportion (less than 5%) of people.
Overall, rates of serious or fatal gastrointestinal bleeding
are very low under the age of 70, but increased sharply after that age. Another
side effect of aspirin use is peptic ulcer, the risk of which is increased by
30-60%.
The study also uncovers uncertainty over the most appropriate
dose of aspirin required to maximize the benefit / harm ratio, with doses
varying between 75 mg to 325mg a day in different clinical trials and studies.
It is also not clear whether taking aspirin for longer than 10 years will
result in greater benefits.
Professor Jack Cuzick, Queen Mary University of London,
comments: "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 until our study, where we analysed all the available evidence, it was
unclear whether the pros of taking aspirin outweighed the cons.
"Whilst there are some serious side effects that can't be
ignored, taking aspirin daily looks to be the most important thing we can do to
reduce cancer after stopping smoking and reducing obesity, and will probably be
much easier to implement."
"Our study shows that if everyone aged between 50-65
started taking aspirin daily for at least 10 years, there would be a 9%
reduction in the number of cancers, strokes and heart attacks overall in men
and around 7% in women. The total number of deaths from any cause would also be
lower, by about 4% over a 20-year period. The benefits of aspirin use would be
most visible in the reduction in deaths due to cancer.
"The risk of bleeding depends on a number of known
factors which people need to be aware of before starting regular aspirin and it
would be advisable to consult with a doctor before embarking on daily
medication."
No comments:
Post a Comment