Aspirin use after diagnosis improves survival in older adults with colon cancer: A retrospective cohort study

Marlies S. Reimers, Esther Bastiaannet, Myrthe P.P. Van Herk-Sukel, Valery E.P. Lemmens, Colette B.M. Van Den Broek, Cornelis J.H. Van De Velde, Anton J.M. De Craen, Gerrit Jan Liefers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives To assess survival in relation to aspirin use after diagnosis in older adults with colon cancer. Design Subgroup analysis of a previously published cohort and retrospective study. Setting Individuals registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry (ECR) between 1998 and 2007, linked to prescriptions of low-dose aspirin (80 mg) registered in a community pharmacy database. Participants Five hundred thirty-six individuals aged 70 and older diagnosed with colon cancer with or without aspirin use after diagnosis. Measurements Survival was analyzed with user status as a time-dependent covariate. Multivariate Poisson regression survival models were used to study the effect of aspirin on overall survival. Results One hundred seven participants (20.0%) started aspirin after being diagnosed with colon cancer; 429 (80.0%) were not prescribed aspirin. Three hundred thirty-nine participants (63.2%) had died by the end of follow-up. Aspirin use after diagnosis was associated with longer overall survival (rate ratio (RR) = 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38-0.70, P < .001). Multivariate proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that aspirin use was associated with longer overall survival (adjusted RR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.44-0.81, P = .001). Conclusion Aspirin use after the diagnosis of colon cancer in older adults was associated with longer survival. Low-dose aspirin could be used as an effective adjuvant therapy in older adults with colon cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2232-2236
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society
Volume60
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • aspirin
  • colon cancer
  • elderly
  • survival

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