Older women who use NSAIDs for at least 10 years have a lower risk of death from colorectal cancer, results from the Women's Health Initiative study of 160,143 post-menopausal women have revealed.

Presented to an American Association for Cancer Research conference this week, the study showed that taking aspirin, ibuprofen and prescription NSAIDs at the time of joining the Women's Health Initiative initiative was not associated with reduced colorectal cancer mortality.

However, colorectal cancer death rates in those who reported using the drugs on joining the study and who were still using them three years later were reduced by 30 per cent.

Significant reductions were also seen in patients who reported at least 10 years of NSAID use on joining the study, compared with those who reported no use.

The findings came just days after European Medicines Agency officials opened a new review of the cardiovascular risks associated with non-selective NSAIDs following publication of new evidence.

The review will update an existing opinion published by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), and will use results from a variety of studies, including a recent meta-analysis led by the Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

In 2006, the CHMP concluded that the overall benefit-risk balance for non-selective NSAIDs remained positive, but that the possibility of a small increased risk of thrombotic events such as heart attacks or stroke with the medicines could not be excluded, particularly where the treatments are used at high doses and for long-term treatment.

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