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Use of calcium channel blockers and risk of breast cancer among women aged 55 years and older: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Hypertension Research volume 46, pages 2272–2279 (2023)Cite this article

A Comment to this article was published on 27 July 2023

Abstract

This retrospective cohort study was aimed to compare the incidence of breast cancer among women aged ≥55 who received calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers. We used the 2002–2015 Health and Welfare Database in Taiwan. Women 55 years and older who initiated antihypertensive treatment were included. Breast cancer risk for patients receiving calcium channel blockers was compared to those receiving angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers. Cox proportional hazards models were used to generate adjusted hazard ratios for breast cancer. We found that the risk of breast cancer was similar between calcium channel blockers users and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] and 95% CI = 1.03 [0.80 to 1.34]). No significant risk increase was observed in the stratified analysis by dihydropyridine (aHR = 1.02 [0.78 to 1.33]) and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (aHR = 1.23 [0.48 to 3.20]). No difference in the risk of breast cancer associated with calcium channel blockers exposure was observed in patients who used hormone replacement therapy (aHR = 1.02 [0.29 to 3.58]). The risk for breast cancer was observed to be significantly lower in patients receiving calcium channel blockers than in those receiving angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers at a treatment duration of 5 or more years (aHR = 0.57 [0.33 to 0.98]). In conclusion, the risk for breast cancer is similar for calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blocker users in an Asian population.

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Acknowledgements

This study is based in part on data from the National Health Insurance Research Database provided by the Health and Welfare Data Center maintained by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The interpretation and conclusions contained herein do not represent those of National Health Insurance Administration or the Ministry of Health and Welfare. We thank Ms. Hsiao-Hang Lin for providing editorial services.

Funding

This study was funded by a research grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan (MOST 104-2314-B-002-095 and MOST 110-2636-B-002-018). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, interpretation of the results, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shin-Yi Lin & Chi-Chuan Wang

  2. School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shin-Yi Lin, Hsin-Yi Huang, Ling-Ya Huang & Chi-Chuan Wang

  3. Cardiovascular Center, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    Liang-Ting Chiang

  4. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Liang-Ting Chiang

  5. Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chi-Chuan Wang

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Correspondence to Chi-Chuan Wang.

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Lin, SY., Huang, HY., Chiang, LT. et al. Use of calcium channel blockers and risk of breast cancer among women aged 55 years and older: a nationwide population-based cohort study. Hypertens Res 46, 2272–2279 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01321-y

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