Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29534696›Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2018

Associations between aspirin use and the risk of cancers: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Yan Qiao, Tingting Yang, Yong Gan, Wenzhen Li, Chao Wang, Yanhong Gong, Zuxun Lu

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 83 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
83citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

83 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  14. Trial
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  16. Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of aspirin in cancer.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Review
  17. Validation of a Colorectal Cancer Risk Prediction Model in US Black Women.Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.) · 2026
    Article
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  19. Review
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23 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yan QiaoDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Tingting YangDepartment of Nutriology, The People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, People's Republic of China.
Yong GanDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Wenzhen LiDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Chao WangDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Yanhong GongDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. gongyanhong@hust.edu.cn.
Zuxun LuDepartment of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. zuxunlu@yahoo.com.

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , China 2016YXMS215
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpidemiological studies have clarified the potential associations between regular aspirin use and cancers. However, it remains controversial on whether aspirin use decreases the risk of cancers risks. Therefore, we conducted an updated meta-analysis to assess the associations between aspirin use and cancers.

methodsThe PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched up to March 2017 to identify relevant studies. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations.

resultsA total of 218 studies with 309 reports were eligible for this meta-analysis. Aspirin use was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of overall cancer (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87-0.91), and gastric (RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65-0.86), esophageal (RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62-0.89), colorectal (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.74-0.85), pancreatic (RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68-0.93), ovarian (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.95), endometrial (RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99), breast (RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88-0.96), and prostate (RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.99) cancers, as well as small intestine neuroendocrine tumors (RR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.05-0.58).

conclusionsThese findings suggest that aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk of gastric, esophageal, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, endometrial, breast, and prostate cancers, and small intestine neuroendocrine tumors.

Indexed as

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalAspirinHumansNeoplasmsObservational Studies as TopicPrognosisRisk AssessmentAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalAspirinAspirinCancersMeta-analysisObservational studies

Identifiers

PMID29534696
PMCPMC5851082

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.