No link between blood pressure medication and cancer

There is no evidence that blood pressure lowering drugs increase the risk of cancer, according to research we've part-funded.

A potential link between blood pressure drugs and cancer has been debated for more than 40 years. The evidence for an increased or decreased risk of cancer with the use of antihypertensive medication has been inconsistent and conflicting.

This was the largest study on cancer outcomes in participants of randomised trials investigating antihypertensive medication – around 260,000 people in 31 trials.

The most detailed analysis yet

Researchers at the University of Oxford asked investigators of all trials for information on which participants developed cancer. Much of this information has not been published before, making the current analysis the most detailed to date.

Five antihypertensive drug classes were investigated separately: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and diuretics. The investigators estimated the effect of each drug class on the risk of developing any type of cancer, of dying from cancer, and of developing breast, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin cancers.

They also examined whether there were any differences according to age, gender, body size, smoking status and previous antihypertensive medication use before taking part in the trial.

During an average of four years, there were around 15,000 new diagnoses of cancer. The researchers found no evidence that the use of any antihypertensive drug class increased the risk of cancer.

Professor James Leiper, our Associate Medical Director, said: “This very large study has demonstrated that blood pressure lowering drugs that help to prevent a heart attack or stroke do not increase the risk of developing cancer. This study provides further reassurance that their use is safe.

"It’s important that patients continue to take their blood pressure medication as prescribed to protect their heart and blood vessels."

This finding was consistent regardless of age, gender, body size, smoking status and previous antihypertensive medication use. Each drug class was compared against all other control groups, including placebo, standard treatment and other drug classes. There was no important effect of any individual drug class on overall cancer risk.  

Similarly, there was no evidence that any type of antihypertensive medication had an effect on the probability of developing breast, colorectal, lung, prostate or skin cancer. When participants were followed throughout the course of each trial, there was no indication that the risk of cancer increased with longer duration of use of these treatments.