Use of analgesic drugs and risk of ovarian cancer: results from a Danish case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
The role of analgesic drug use in development of ovarian cancer is not fully understood. We examined the association between analgesic use and risk of ovarian cancer. In addition, we examined whether the association differed according to histological types.


METHODS
Population-based case-control study.


METHODS
Denmark in the period 1995-1999.


METHODS
We included 756 women with epithelial ovarian cancer and 1564 randomly selected control women aged 35-79 years.


METHODS
Information on analgesic drug use was collected from personal interviews. Analgesic drugs were divided into the following categories: any analgesics; aspirin; non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; paracetamol; and other analgesic drugs. The association between analgesic drug use and ovarian cancer risk was analysed using multiple logistic regression models. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.


METHODS
Epithelial ovarian cancer.


RESULTS
Women with a regular use of any analgesics (OR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.62 - 1.01) or aspirin (OR = 0.68; 95% CI 0.46 - 1.02) had a decreased risk of ovarian cancer, although not statistically significant. Regular use of non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol or other analgesics did not decrease ovarian cancer risk. Use of any analgesics (OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.53-0.98) or aspirin (OR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.36-1.00) resulted in a statistically significant decreased risk of serous ovarian cancer but not mucinous or other ovarian tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance with most previous studies, our results indicate a possible inverse association between analgesic use, particularly aspirin, and ovarian cancer risk.
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henriette B
HB
Ammundsen
Mette T
MT
Faber
Allan
A
Jensen
Estrid
E
Høgdall
Jan
J
Blaakaer
Claus
C
Høgdall
Susanne K
SK
Kjaer
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D001241:Aspirin