Taking aspirin daily for at least 4 years reduces long-term risk of cancer death

Evid Based Nurs 2011;14:71 doi:10.1136/ebn1165 Systematic review with meta analysisElizabeth Ann Coleman

College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA Correspondence to Elizabeth Ann Coleman
Mail Slot 529, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; colemanann{at}uams.eduCommentary on: Rothwell PM, Fowkes FG, Belch JF, et al. Effect of daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer: analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials. Lancet 2011; 377: 31– 41.

? The study findings that daily aspirin reduced cancer death by 20% need to be factored into guideline recommendations. The large effect size of aspirin, even in low dose, in preventing cancer may outweigh the small risk of stomach bleeds.

? It may be recommended that persons at age 40 take daily low-dose aspirin to prevent cancer, not just of adenocarinoma of the gastrointestinal tract but of adenocarinoma of other tumour sites.

? More trial data are needed on cancers that affect women, especially breast and gynaecological cancers.

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