USPSTF Recommends Against Routine Aspirin or NSAIDs to Prevent Colorectal Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has been releasing new and updated guidelines periodically (guidelines homepage).

The USPSTF concludes each of its guidelines with a recommendation, graded as follows:

A — The intervention is strongly recommended.

B — The intervention is recommended.

C — The USPSTF makes no recommendation for or against the intervention.

D — The intervention is not routinely recommended.

I — Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the intervention.

The USPSTF has reviewed the evidence for the use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors for the primary prevention of colorectal adenomas and cancers. Because harms outweigh benefits, the USPSTF recommends agai…