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Post‐diagnosis aspirin use and survival in veterans with head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Lumley Catherine J.,
Kaffenberger Thomas M.,
Desale Sameer,
Tefera Eshetu,
Han Chihun Jim,
Rafei Hind,
Maxwell Jessica H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.25518
Subject(s) - aspirin , medicine , head and neck cancer , head and neck , cancer , oncology , intensive care medicine , surgery
Background Our objective was to determine the effect of post‐diagnosis aspirin use on survival in veterans with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 584 veterans with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated at the Washington DC VA Medical Center between 1995 and 2015. Charts were queried for clinical‐pathologic data, aspirin prescriptions, and outcome. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) among aspirin users and nonusers. Results A total of 329 patients met inclusion criteria. Primary subsites included oropharynx ( n = 143), larynx ( n = 105), oral cavity ( n = 62), and hypopharynx ( n = 19). Eighty‐four patients were aspirin users (25.5%). Aspirin users demonstrated significantly better 3‐year OS and DSS (78.6% and 88.1%) compared to nonaspirin users (OS: 55.9% and DSS: 70.2%; P = .0003 and P = .0019, respectively). On multivariate analysis, aspirin use remained independently associated with improved survival. Conclusion Aspirin use following diagnosis and curative treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is associated with improved OS and DSS.