Low-Dose Aspirin and Cancer in Older Adults

In a randomized trial, aspirin increased cancer-specific mortality in people older than 70.

In the ASPREE trial, 19,000 relatively healthy older adults (nearly all older than 70) without histories of cardiovascular disease or metastatic cancer were randomized to aspirin (100 mg daily) or placebo. Aspirin conferred no cardiovascular benefit, and it conferred excess risk for major hemorrhage, overall mortality, and cancer-specific mortality (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 15 2018 and N Engl J Med 2018; 379:1499, 1509, 1519). Now, the ASPREE investigators provide more data on the troubling cancer outcome.

During median follow-up of 5 years, the incidence of new localized cancers did not differ in the aspirin and placebo groups. However, metastatic cancer (newly diagnosed cancers presenting with metastases, plus newly identified metastatic spread…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Low-Dose Aspirin and Cancer in Older Adults

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Reviewing Author