Key Points:
- A large-scale cohort study has confirmed that low-dose aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The study emphasized that the risk reduction is most significant for metastatic CRC and in individuals who have been taking aspirin for at least five years.
- Methodology:
- Researchers focused on individuals aged 50 years and older living in Norway between 2014 and 2018, excluding those with a history of invasive cancer or who lived in Norway for less than six months before the study.
- The study obtained sociodemographic information and low-dose aspirin prescription data, including the date of prescription, number of packages dispensed, and defined daily doses.
- CRC cases were categorized by site and clinical stage.
- The study included 2,186,390 individuals, with 38,577 (1.8%) diagnosed with CRC after a median follow-up of 10.9 years.
- Low-dose aspirin use was recorded in 579,196 (26.5%) individuals, with usage more common in males, older individuals, those with lower education or income, and those using cardiovascular medications.