Relative risk of malignant tumors in analgesic abusers - Effects of long-term intake of aspirin

Background: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) e.g. aspirin, indom ethacin are reported in epidemiological and experimental studies to reduce the risk for cole-rectal cancer and potentially other malignant tumors. Met hods: We examined the effect of NSAIDs on tumor prevalence in abusers of mi xed analgesics containing aspirin, phenacetine, caffeine or codein. 618 ana lgesic abusers who were autopsied between 1968-1983 were compared with a co ntrol group without evidence of analgesic abuse matched for sex, age and ye ar autopsy was performed. Results and conclusions: Abusers were found to ha ve an overall risk of 0.40 fold of having developed a malignancy as compare d with the controls. Excluding patients with urinary tract tumors which are increased in analgesic abusers the risk was further decreased to 0.28. No statistically significant effect was found for patients with prostate cance r. The results encourage prospective control studies in high risk patients.