4 ms·

Correlation or causation? Interestingly, the cancers that are most lifestyle related (liver, lung) are the ones seemingly most affected by taking aspirin. Per

Correlation or causation? Interestingly, the cancers that are most lifestyle related (liver, lung) are the ones seemingly most affected by taking aspirin. Perhaps those taking aspirin are simply taking better care of themselves?

autokad 9y ago
anything that reduces swelling and inflammation will probably reduce cancer risk, so its not surprising at all. although people seem to get upset by that fact.
gwern 9y ago
There are meta-analyses of the RCTs for baby aspirin which also indicate reductions in all-cause mortality probably through its effect on cancer rates. I'd consider them much more important than this result which is ultimately just another correlational/observational result. Some of the studies I'm thinking of: - Rothwell et al 2012 "Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomised controlled trials" http://www.istudymedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/aspirin.pdf http://www.istudymedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/aspirin.pdf - "Effect of daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer: analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials" http://www.beppegrillo.it/immagini/Aspirin%20and%20death%20from%20cancer%20(Lancet%202010).pdf http://www.beppegrillo.it/immagini/Aspirin%20and%20death%20f... - "Aspirin for prophylactic use in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer: a systematic review and overview of reviews" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0083409/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0083409/ , Sutcliffe et al 2013 - Pignone et al 2013, "Effect of including cancer mortality on the cost-effectiveness of aspirin for primary prevention in men" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797356/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797356/ - "Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population", Cuzick et al 2014 http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/1/47.full http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/1/47.full - Cuzick et al 2015, [Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269341/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269341/)

autokad 9y ago

anything that reduces swelling and inflammation will probably reduce cancer risk, so its not surprising at all. although people seem to get upset by that fact.

gwern 9y ago

There are meta-analyses of the RCTs for baby aspirin which also indicate reductions in all-cause mortality probably through its effect on cancer rates. I'd consider them much more important than this result which is ultimately just another correlational/observational result. Some of the studies I'm thinking of: - Rothwell et al 2012 "Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomised controlled trials" http://www.istudymedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/aspirin.pdf http://www.istudymedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/aspirin.pdf - "Effect of daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer: analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials" http://www.beppegrillo.it/immagini/Aspirin%20and%20death%20from%20cancer%20(Lancet%202010).pdf http://www.beppegrillo.it/immagini/Aspirin%20and%20death%20f... - "Aspirin for prophylactic use in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer: a systematic review and overview of reviews" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0083409/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0083409/ , Sutcliffe et al 2013 - Pignone et al 2013, "Effect of including cancer mortality on the cost-effectiveness of aspirin for primary prevention in men" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797356/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797356/ - "Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population", Cuzick et al 2014 http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/1/47.full http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/1/47.full - Cuzick et al 2015, [Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269341/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269341/)