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Long-Term Use of Antihypertensive Agents and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study
Henry W C Leung1, Li-Ling Hung, Agnes L F Chan
1Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University-An Nan Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Insights
Long-term use of certain antihypertensive agents, specifically beta-1 selective beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), may increase breast cancer risk in women with hypertension. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hypertension is a prevalent condition requiring long-term management with antihypertensive agents (AHs).
- Previous research has not definitively established the association between specific classes of AHs and breast cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential link between long-term use of antihypertensive agents and the risk of developing breast cancer in Taiwanese women.
- To identify specific classes of antihypertensive drugs that may be associated with increased breast cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to identify 330,699 hypertensive patients treated between 1998 and 2011.
- Employed logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for breast cancer risk associated with AH use, adjusting for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Long-term use of beta-1 selective beta-blockers was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Ever-use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) for 13 years showed a statistically significant association with breast cancer (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.16).
- No significant association was found between breast cancer risk and the use of nonselective beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin II antagonists.
Conclusions:
- Long-term use of CCBs and beta-1 selective beta-blockers may be associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer.
- These findings suggest a need for further investigation into the potential oncogenic effects of specific antihypertensive medications.
- Comprehensive population-based studies are warranted to validate these associations and inform clinical practice.
Introduction:
To evaluate the risk of breast cancer associated with long-term use of antihypertensive agents (AHs) in Taiwanese women with hypertension.
Methods:
A search of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database identified 330,699 patients with hypertension who were treated with antihypertensive drugs between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2011. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between the use of AHs and breast cancer risk, adjusted for other types of antihypertensive drugs, statins and co-morbidities.
Results:
Among the AHs used to treat the hypertensive women enrolled in our study, our analysis revealed that those treated with one specific particular class of beta-blockers (beta-1 selective beta-blockers) had an increased risk for breast cancer. We also found that the ever-use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs; i.e. for 13 years) was associated with breast cancer in an adjusted model (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.16). However, the use of nonselective beta-blockers, selective and nonselective alpha-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists were not associated with breast cancer risk.
Conclusion:
Based on the results of our analysis, long-term use of CCBs or beta-1 selective beta-blockers are likely to be associated with the risk of breast cancer. Further large comprehensive population-based studies to support our findings are required for confirmation of this conclusion.
