Risk of urothelial cancer death among people using antihypertensive drugs—a cohort study from Finland

Abstract

Background: To analyse the association between antihypertensive (anti-HT) drug use and risk of urothelial cancer (UC) death. UC occurs as bladder cancer (BCa) and upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs). Hypertension is a suggested risk factor for BCa and may impair disease prognosis. However, it’s unclear if use of anti-HT drugs could improve the prognosis of UC.

Materials and methods: This study evaluated the association between use of anti-HT drugs and UC survival among 14,065 participants diagnosed with BCa and 1080 with UTUC during 1995–2012 in Finland. It analyzed data using the multivariable adjusted conditional Cox regression model.

Results: Angiotensin-receptor (ATR) blocker use before BCa diagnosis was associated with slightly decreased risk of BCa death (HR = .81, CI = .71–0.93). The association was dose-dependent and it decreased in association with elevated intensity of ATR-blocker use. Post-diagnostic use of ATR-blockers was similarly associated with better survival compared to non-users (HR = .81, CI = .71–0.92. Interestingly, use of calcium-channel blockers also associated with better survival and the risk of BCa death decreased with increasing intensity of use (HR = .67, CI = .52–0.86 for highest intensity).

Conclusions: This large population-based cohort suggests decreased risk of BCa death among ATR-blocker and calcium-channel blocker users. The risk association among ATR-blockers and calcium-channel blockers was dose-dependent suggesting a causal explanation. Similar risk associations are not observed for other anti-HT drug users, which may suggest a direct effect of ATR blocker or calcium-channel blocker use. Further studies are needed to elucidate the potential anticancer mechanism.

Keywords:

• Urothelial cancer
• antihypertensive drugs
• bladder cancer
• risk of death
• ATR-blockers

Acknowledgements

Eerik E. E. Santala: none. Andres Kotsar: none. Teuvo L. J. Tammela: Consultation fees from Astellas, Janssen-Cilag and Bayer AG. Investigator in clinical trials: Astellas, Bayer AG, Janssen-Cilag, Lidds Ab, Orion Pharma. Thea Veitonmäki: Consultation fee Phizer, travel support Astellas. Teemu J. Murtola: Consultation fees from Astellas. Lecture fees from Janssen.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by any of the authors.