Population-based cohort study of association of daily aspirin use with hepatocellular carcinoma risk among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Preclinical studies suggest that aspirin may prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinical evidence for this association is lacking. A population-based cohort study in Taiwan investigated HCC risk among NAFLD patients who received a daily dose of aspirin for at least 90 days (‘treated group’) and NAFLD patient who had not received antiplatelet therapy (‘untreated group’). Cumulative incidence of HCC was signficantly lower in the treated group compared with the untreated group, both among all patients (A) and among high-risk patients (B; age ≥ 55 years and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase). The HCC risk was significantly lower with 3 or more years of aspirin use compared with use shorter than 1 year (aHR 0.64; p=0.013).