Skip Navigation
American College of Physicians Logo
  • Subscribe
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Sign In
    Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
    INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
    Sign In|Set Up Account
    You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
    INSTITUTIONAL SIGN IN
    Open Athens|Shibboleth|Log In
    Annals of Internal Medicine
    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to Annals of Internal Medicine.
    You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your purchase.
Annals of Internal Medicine Logo Menu
  • Latest
  • Issues
  • Channels
  • CME/MOC
  • In the Clinic
  • Journal Club
  • Web Exclusives
  • Author Info
Advanced Search
  • ‹ PREV ARTICLE
  • This Issue
  • NEXT ARTICLE ›
Summaries for Patients |1 September 2015

Associations Between the Use of Low-Dose Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Colorectal Cancer Risk Free

Article, Author, and Disclosure Information
Author, Article, and Disclosure Information
  • The full report is titled “Low-Dose Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Colorectal Cancer Risk. A Population-Based, Case–Control Study.” It is in the 1 September 2015 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 163, pages 347-355). The authors are S. Friis, A.H. Riis, R. Erichsen, J.A. Baron, and H.T. Sørensen.

    This article was published online first at www.annals.org on 25 August 2015.


Summaries for Patients are a service provided by Annals to help patients better understand the complicated and often mystifying language of modern medicine.
Summaries for Patients are presented for informational purposes only. These summaries are not a substitute for advice from your own medical provider. If you have questions about this material, or need medical advice about your own health or situation, please contact your physician. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the American College of Physicians.
×
  • ‹ PREV ARTICLE
  • This Issue
  • NEXT ARTICLE ›
Jump To
  • Full Article
  • FULL ARTICLE
  • FULL ARTICLE
    • What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
    • Why did the researchers do this particular study?
    • Who was studied?
    • How was the study done?
    • What did the researchers find?
    • What were the limitations of the study?
    • What are the implications of the study?
  • Figures
  • Tables
  • Supplements
  • Audio/Video
  • Summary for Patients
  • Clinical Slide Sets
  • CME / MOC
  • Comments
  • Twitter Link
  • Facebook Link
  • Email Link
More
  • LinkedIn Link

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Some studies suggest that both aspirin and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce a person's risk for colorectal cancer. Effects of these drugs on colorectal cancer risk may be delayed and only occur after long-term continuous use. Effects may also depend on dose and whether drugs are given every other day, once daily, or multiple times daily.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

To examine associations between the use of low-dose aspirin and nonaspirin NSAIDs and risk for colorectal cancer.

Who was studied?

10,280 adults with an initial diagnosis of colorectal cancer and 102,800 adult control participants without colorectal cancer.

How was the study done?

Case patients and control participants were matched for age, sex, and area of residence. All participants lived in northern Denmark between 1994 and 2011. Researchers obtained data on drug use, comorbid conditions, and history of colonoscopy from prescription and patient registries. Low-dose aspirin (75 to 150 mg) and nonaspirin NSAID exposure were defined according to type, estimated dose, duration, and consistency of use. Researchers used logistic regression and adjusted for several characteristics to examine associations between patterns of drug use and risk for colorectal cancer.

What did the researchers find?

Continuous use of low-dose aspirin for 5 or more years was associated with reduced risk for colorectal cancer, but overall long-term use that was possibly discontinuous was not. Long-term, high-intensity use (average of ≥0.3 daily doses) of nonaspirin NSAIDs was also associated with reduced risk for colorectal cancer. Nonaspirin NSAIDs with the highest cyclooxygenase-2 selectivity were associated with the largest risk reductions.

What were the limitations of the study?

No data on over-the-counter purchases of aspirin and low-dose ibuprofen were available. Although the researchers did analyses that adjusted for multiple factors, they could not rule out the possibility of important confounding by colorectal cancer risk factors and could not definitively establish causality. Harms, such as bleeding risks, were not examined.

What are the implications of the study?

Continuous use of low-dose aspirin for 5 years or longer may be associated with decreased colorectal cancer risk.

Clinical Slide Sets

Terms of Use

The In the Clinic® slide sets are owned and copyrighted by the American College of Physicians (ACP). All text, graphics, trademarks, and other intellectual property incorporated into the slide sets remain the sole and exclusive property of the ACP. The slide sets may be used only by the person who downloads or purchases them and only for the purpose of presenting them during not-for-profit educational activities. Users may incorporate the entire slide set or selected individual slides into their own teaching presentations but may not alter the content of the slides in any way or remove the ACP copyright notice. Users may make print copies for use as hand-outs for the audience the user is personally addressing but may not otherwise reproduce or distribute the slides by any means or media, including but not limited to sending them as e-mail attachments, posting them on Internet or Intranet sites, publishing them in meeting proceedings, or making them available for sale or distribution in any unauthorized form, without the express written permission of the ACP. Unauthorized use of the In the Clinic slide sets will constitute copyright infringement.

This feature is available only to Registered Users

Subscribe/Learn More
Submit a Comment

0 Comments

PDF
Not Available
Citations
Citation

Associations Between the Use of Low-Dose Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Colorectal Cancer Risk. Ann Intern Med. 2015;163:I–44. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/P15-9028

Download citation file:

  • Ris (Zotero)
  • EndNote
  • BibTex
  • Medlars
  • ProCite
  • RefWorks
  • Reference Manager

© 2019

×
Permissions

Published: Ann Intern Med. 2015;163(5):I-44.

DOI: 10.7326/P15-9028

2 Citations

See Also

Low-Dose Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Population-Based, Case–Control Study
View MoreView Less

Related Articles

Low-Dose Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Population-Based, Case–Control Study
Annals of Internal Medicine; 163 (5): 347-355
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors for Primary Prevention of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review Prepared for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Annals of Internal Medicine; 146 (5): 376-389
Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations
Annals of Internal Medicine; 146 (5): I-35
Routine Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for the Primary Prevention of Colorectal Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
Annals of Internal Medicine; 146 (5): 361-364
View MoreView Less

Journal Club

After surgery for stage II or III colorectal cancer, more vs less frequent follow-up did not differ for 5-year mortality
Annals of Internal Medicine; 169 (8): JC38
Guideline: In acute gout, steroids, NSAIDs, or low-dose colchicine recommended; lifestyle changes not supported
Annals of Internal Medicine; 166 (4): JC14
Current vs past use of NSAIDs was linked to increased risk for first HF hospitalization; risk varied by drug
Annals of Internal Medicine; 166 (4): JC23
Review: Aspirin reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in patients at average risk
Annals of Internal Medicine; 165 (4): JC16
View MoreView Less

Related Point of Care

Screening for Colorectal Cancer
Annals of Internal Medicine; 160 (9): ITC5-1
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Annals of Internal Medicine; 148 (3): ITC2-1
Osteoarthritis
Annals of Internal Medicine; 147 (3): ITC8-1
View MoreView Less

Related Topics

Colorectal Cancer
Gastroenterology/Hepatology
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Hematology/Oncology

Colorectal Cancer, Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Gastrointestinal Cancer, Hematology/Oncology.

PubMed Articles

Combination of erlotinib and naproxen employing pulsatile or intermittent dosing profoundly inhibits urinary bladder cancers.
Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2019.
Drug induced liver injury: East versus West - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clin Mol Hepatol 2019.
View More

Results provided by: PubMed

CME/MOC Activity Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In.
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
Annals of Internal Medicine
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
The Comments Feature Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In.
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
Annals of Internal Medicine
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
link to top

Content

  • Home
  • Latest
  • Issues
  • Channels
  • CME/MOC
  • In the Clinic
  • Journal Club
  • Web Exclusives

Information For

  • Author Info
  • Reviewers
  • Press
  • Readers
  • Institutions / Libraries / Agencies
  • Advertisers

Services

  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Alerts
  • Current Issue RSS
  • Latest RSS
  • In the Clinic RSS
  • Reprints & Permissions
  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • About Annals
  • About Mobile
  • Patient Information
  • Teaching Tools
  • Annals in the News
  • Share Your Feedback

Awards and Cover

  • Personae (Cover Photo)
  • Junior Investigator Awards
  • Poetry Prize

Other Resources

  • ACP Online
  • Career Connection
  • ACP Advocate Blog
  • ACP Journal Wise

Follow Annals On

  • Twitter Link
  • Facebook Link
acp link acp
silverchair link silverchair

Copyright © 2019 American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

Print ISSN: 0003-4819 | Online ISSN: 1539-3704

Privacy Policy

|

Conditions of Use

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept
×

You need a subscription to this content to use this feature.

×
PDF Downloads Require Access to the Full Article.
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
INSTITUTIONAL SIGN IN
Open Athens|Shibboleth|Log In
Annals of Internal Medicine
PURCHASE OPTIONS
Buy This Article|Subscribe
You will be redirected to acponline.org to sign-in to Annals to complete your purchase.
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
Access to this Free Content Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In. Please Choose One of the Following Options
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
Annals of Internal Medicine
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×