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Calcium channel blockers and breast cancer incidence: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 11:04 authored by Cameron Wright, Moorin, RE, Chowdhury, EK, Stricker, BH, Reid, CM, Saunders, CM, Hughes, JD
Controversy exists regarding the potential association between taking calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and the development of breast cancer. As a positive association would have important public health implications due to the widespread use of CCBs, this study aimed to incorporate new evidence to determine whether an association is likely to exist. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library to 28 June 2016 for relevant literature. References and citing articles were checked and authors contacted as necessary. Two authors independently selected articles and extracted data. Twenty-nine studies were reviewed; 26 were non-randomised studies (NRS). Meta-analysis of study data where adjustment for 'confounding by indication' was judged to be present suggests that an association, if any, is likely to be modest in magnitude (pooled odds/risk ratio 1.09 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.15, I2=0%, 8 sub-studies; pooled hazard ratio 0.99 (95% CI 0.94-1.03, I2=35%, 9 sub-studies)). There are credible study data showing an increased relative risk with long-term use of CCBs, but the results of our meta-analysis and of meta-regression of log relative risk against minimum follow-up time are mixed. The current summative evidence does not support a clear association between taking CCBs and developing breast cancer. However, uncertainty remains, especially for long-term use and any association might not be uniform between different populations and/or breast cancer sub-types. We thus recommend further NRS in settings where CCB use is highly prevalent and population-based cancer, prescription and health-registries exist, to resolve this continuing uncertainty. PROSPERO, CRD42015026712.

History

Publication title

Cancer epidemiology

Volume

50

Pagination

113-124

ISSN

1877-7821

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Elsevier

Place of publication

Netherlands

Rights statement

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Behaviour and health

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