A cohort study of antihypertensive medication use and breast cancer among Danish women

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006 Jun;97(3):231-6. doi: 10.1007/s10549-005-9091-x. Epub 2006 May 3.

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that specific antihypertensive medications (AHT) may either increase or decrease breast cancer risk.

Methods: We studied breast cancer incidence among 49,950 women in North Jutland, Denmark in order to determine if breast cancer risk is associated with specific classes of AHT use. Poisson regression analyses were used to calculate rate ratios for ever or exclusive use of each class of AHT, number of prescriptions for AHT, and years of follow-up.

Results: There was no statistically significant association between ever use of any AHT overall (RR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.81-1.10) or any specific class of AHT (diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin II antagonists) and breast cancer.

Conclusions: This study should offer further reassurance to women currently using AHT that their medication use is unlikely related to breast cancer risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Aged
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / adverse effects
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / adverse effects
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Diuretics / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Middle Aged
  • Registries
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Diuretics