Key result
Use of short-acting calcium channel blockers was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to other anti-hypertensive medications (HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.20-2.28).
Why the study?
Does the use of specific anti-hypertensive medications influence the risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women?
Cohort (n=145,551)
Does the use of specific anti-hypertensive medications influence the risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women?
Hazard Ratio: 1.66 (95% CI 1.2–2.28)
Use of short-acting calcium channel blockers may be associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer and lower sRAGE levels in postmenopausal women.
Should not alter prescribing; leaves open whether short-acting CCBs increase pancreatic cancer risk.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Soluble receptor for glycation end products (sRAGE), which is modulated by anti-hypertensive (HT) medications, has been inversely associated with pancreatic cancer. However, the association between commonly used anti-HT medications and risk of pancreatic cancer is unknown. A total of 145,551 postmenopausal women from the Women Health Initiative (WHI) Study were included in analysis. Use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), β-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and diuretics was ascertained at baseline (1993–1998). Baseline sRAGE levels were measured among a subset of 2104 participants using an immunoassay. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for pancreatic cancer in association with anti-HT medications. Increased risk of pancreatic cancer was found among users of short-acting CCB (HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.20–2.28) and long-term (≥3 years) users of short-acting CCB (HR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.42–3.02) compared to users of other anti-HT medications. Average sRAGE levels were lower in short-acting CCB users than users of other anti-HT medications (1173 versus 1454 pg/mL, p = 0.038). Non-statistically significant reduced risk of pancreatic cancer was found among users of β-blockers (HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.60–1.07). Average sRAGE levels were higher in β-blockers users than users of other anti-HT medications (1692 versus 1454 pg/mL, p > 0.05). Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate potential mechanisms by which anti-HT medications influence development of pancreatic cancer.
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Wang et al. (2018) conducted a cohort in Pancreatic cancer (n=145,551). Short-acting calcium channel blockers vs. Users of other anti-hypertensive medications was evaluated on Pancreatic cancer (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.20-2.28). Use of short-acting calcium channel blockers was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to other anti-hypertensive medications (HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.20-2.28).
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