Aspirin can save you from death

A new research founded that older adults (> 65 years) who regularly took aspirin had a significant reduction in mortality from all causes and from cancer compared with individuals who didn't take aspirin.

According to researchers, "This observation was consistent across all causes of mortality. However, the greatest reduction in risk was noted for colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality among individuals who used aspirin three or more times per week."

The risk of dying from any cause was reduced by 19%, from any cancer by 15%, from GI cancer by 25%, and from CRC by 29%.

The findings came from a new analysis of data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, which involved more than 145,000 individuals. The research was conducted by experts from National Cancer Institute, Rockville who note that the impact of aspirin on mortality risk appears to be modulated by body mass index (BMI).

Researchers stated that, "The efficacy of aspirin as a cancer preventive agent may be associated with BMI." Participants who were underweight (BMI < 20 kg/m²) had no observable benefit associated with aspirin use. Though the use of aspirin in those with a BMI ≥ 20 kg/m² were associated with reduced mortality risk. The greatest reductions in mortality risk were seen in individuals with a higher BMI (25–29.9 kg/m²).

The authors acknowledge that their findings required "further confirmation" and noted that the significant reduction in mortality associated with aspirin use contrasts with results from other studies. Nevertheless, they say that their finding of an impact of BMI on the effect of aspirin suggested the "increasing rates of overweight and obesity globally may substantially alter the population-based efficacy of cancer prevention prophylactics."

In an interesting twist, the new findings of a significant reduction in mortality were highly in contrast to recent data from Australia, which showed higher mortality in individuals taking aspirin.

That data come from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study. The study examined the efficacy of 100-mg aspirin in individuals aged ≥ 70 years in the United States and Australia (≥ 65 years for US black or Hispanic participants).

As reported, the study showed higher all-cause and cancer-related mortality with aspirin therapy.

Loomans-Kropp says the new findings added "to what's already known about the use of aspirin as a cancer preventative mechanism. It's something for people to keep in mind when they're considering whether or not to begin taking aspirin according to either doctor’s recommendations or whatever recommendations they choose to look at."

According to researchers, "This observation was consistent across all causes of mortality. However, the greatest reduction in risk was noted for colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality among individuals who used aspirin three or more times per week."

Loomans-Kropp explained that for the current study, her team created an aggregate measure of aspirin use that could be used as a surrogate longitudinal measure.

Consequently, the use of aspirin three times a week could reflect various reasons for taking the drug.

"At least for the US population, aspirin is readily available, so they could be taking it for relatively minor pain relief throughout the week," Loomans-Kropp said. "It could be that individuals are using aspirin as a cancer preventative agent, as it’s part of the US Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF] recommendations," she said. But it could also be that individuals are taking aspirin to reduce cardiovascular risk.

The USPSTF recommends low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease and CRC prevention in average-risk individuals aged 50–59 years. However, the Task Force also recommends an individualized approach for those aged 60–69 years, and note the evidence in individuals at least aged 70 years is considered insufficient.

The PLCO Cancer Screening Trial ran from 1993-2001 at 10 centers in the United States, and individuals aged 55-74 years were randomized to either a screening or control group. The current analysis looked at participants aged ≥ 65 years at baseline or who had survived until 65 years, and who had a valid baseline questionnaire and reported their aspirin use. The study involved 146,152 individuals with a mean age at baseline of 66.3 years. Just over half (51.1%) were women and 88.6% were non-Hispanic white. Over a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 40,419 individuals died, including 12,421 who died of any cancer and 1425 who died of gastrointestinal cancer (814 from CRC, 353 from esophageal cancer, and 258 from gastric cancer).

The team found that any use of aspirin was associated with reduced all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.

Specifically, aspirin use from one to three times per month was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality compared with no use, at a hazard ratio of 0.84 (P < .001), as well as cancer mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.87 (P < .001). Aspirin use three or more times a week was also associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality versus no use, at a hazard ratio of 0.81 (P < .001), and cancer mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.85 (P < .001). n addition, aspirin use at least three times a week was linked to significantly reduced gastrointestinal cancer mortality versus no aspirin use, at a hazard ratio of 0.75 (P < .001), and CRC, at a hazard ratio of 0.71 (P < .001).

When researchers stratified participants by BMI, they found the impact of aspirin use appeared to be greater in more overweight individuals.

Among people with a BMI of 20–24.9 kg/m², aspirin use at least three times a week was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality versus no use, at a hazard ratio of 0.82 (P < .001), and cancer mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.86 (P < .001). For individuals with a BMI of 25–29.9 kg/m², aspirin use three times a week or more was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and cancer mortality compared with no use, at hazard ratios of 0.82 and 0.86, respectively (P < .001 for both). In addition, there was a reduced risk of gastrointestinal cancer mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.72 (P < .001), and CRC mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.66 (P = .001), in this group with thrice weekly or more aspirin use.

When researchers stratified participants by BMI, they found the impact of aspirin use appeared to be greater in more overweight individuals. it is suggested higher doses of aspirin "may be necessary among those who weigh more."

Passarelli commented that the BMI results are "not one of the most important takeaways from this study. It's difficult to say whether this is really biological or a consequence of the fact that very few older people have a BMI that low, which affects precision in a study like this."

"The vast majority (over 95% in this study) have a BMI over 20 kg/m², and the aspirin association actually seemed pretty consistent across BMI categories over 20 kg/m²," he added.

Passarelli believes that, based on the current evidence, "it's not clear whether aspirin recommendations should be altered to account for a patient's weight or body mass index."He said that recent research has suggested higher doses of aspirin "may be necessary among those who weigh more."

"I think any future study would probably probe that a lot further by considering a sort of tailored, personalized aspirin dosing approach — a specific dose according to age, weight, and other comorbidities — to see if we can ideally strike a balance between any of these long-term benefits and the more immediate harms related to gastrointestinal bleeding," Passarelli said.

-The study was published in JAMA Network Open.