Are metformin, statin and aspirin use still associated with overall mortality among colorectal cancer patients with diabetes if adjusted for one another?

M.M.J. Zanders*, M.P.P. van Herk-Sukel, P.A.J. Vissers, R.M.C. Herings, H.R. Haak, L.V. van de Poll-Franse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Metformin, statin and aspirin use seem associated with decreased mortality in cancer patients, though, without adjusting for one another. Independent associations of these drugs with overall mortality after colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis within glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) users were assessed. Methods: Patients starting GLDs before CRC diagnosis (1998-2011) were selected from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry linked with the PHARMO Database Network. The Cox regression model, with time since CRC diagnosis, included time-dependent variables of cumulative exposure to metformin, statins and aspirin after cancer diagnosis and time-dependent ever-never terms for drug exposure. Results: A total of 1043 patients used GLDs before CRC diagnosis; 666 (64%) used metformin, 639 (61%) used statins and 490 (47%) used aspirin after CRC diagnosis. Multivariable analyses revealed that longer cumulative exposure to metformin was not associated with overall mortality (HRCumulative exposure/6 months 1.02; 95% CI 0.97-1.07), whereas the favourable effect of statins increased with cumulative exposure (HRCumulative exposure/6 months 0.93; 95% CI 0.89-0.98). No association between aspirin use and overall mortality was seen (HRCumulative exposure/6 months 0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.03). Conclusions: No independent association between cumulative exposure to metformin, aspirin and overall mortality was found. Cumulative exposure to statins after CRC diagnosis was associated with lower overall mortality, supporting a drug effect of statins among GLDs users.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)403-410
JournalBritish Journal of Cancer
Volume113
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015

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