Aspirin-statin combo lowers hepatocellular carcinoma incidence

Daily use of aspirin reduces the risk of incident hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while the combination of daily aspirin use and statin results in a lower incidence of HCC, which suggests a beneficial interaction, according to a study. In addition, no excess oesophageal variceal haemorrhage (VH) is seen among daily aspirin users compared with nonusers.

In this retrospective study, the investigators sought to examine the effect of aspirin and statin use on HCC incidence in a prospective cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis and to determine if there was an increased risk of oesophageal VH in aspirin users.

Data were collected from 521 patients from 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2017. Using competing risk analysis, the investigators evaluated the association between risk factors and HCC, as well as the relationship between aspirin and VH.

In univariate and multivariate models, aspirin use alone resulted in a decreased incidence of HCC (univariate: hazard ratio [HR], 0.348, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.124‒0.976; p=0.0448; multivariate: HR, 0.266, 95 percent CI, 0.094‒0.755; p=0.0129).

Furthermore, the combination of aspirin and statin use correlated with a reduced risk of HCC (HR, 0.15, 95 percent CI, 0.036‒0.624; p=0.0090). This association remained statistically significant in the multivariable model (HR, 0.113, 95 percent CI, 0.026‒0.483; p=0.0033).

No significant risk increase in VH was observed among daily aspirin users compared with nonusers.

“HCC is a leading cause of cancer and cancer-related mortality worldwide,” the investigators said. “Studies have suggested that aspirin and statins may be associated with a decrease in incident HCC.”