Questions are cropping up about whether blood pressure meds increase cancer risk...because of a laundry list of recalls and media reports.
Contamination with a probable carcinogen is leading to ongoing recalls with valsartan, irbesartan, losartan, and some combo products.
Now patients are also hearing that some BP meds themselves are linked to cancer...NOT because of a contaminant. Debunk these concerns.
Emphasize that treating hypertension clearly reduces the risk of stroke and other CV events. The evidence for this is STRONG.
Reassure patients that the evidence linking BP meds to cancer is WEAK...and any association with cancer may be due to other factors.
For example, some studies link hydrochlorothiazide to skin cancer. But this could be due to sun exposure, skin type, family history, etc.
And a recent analysis suggests ACEIs may increase risk of lung cancer...but this could be related to smoking.
Continue to recommend first-line BP meds shown to improve outcomes...thiazides, ACEIs, ARBs, or calcium channel blockers.
Use our chart, Treatment of Hypertension, for help with BP med selection and titration. And see our commentary, Antihypertensives and Cancer, to put the hype into perspective for your patients.
- Lancet Oncol 2011;12(1):65-82
- J Am Acad Dermatol 2018;78(4):673-681.e9
- BMJ 2018;363:k4209
- Commentary: Antihypertensives and Cancer
- Algorithm: Treatment of Hypertension
MICHELLE MOLINARES June 11, 2019
Hello, This is for a possible topic for an upcoming newsletter. Can you write about a refresher for Hepatitis A and immunizations (and possible re-immunization)? There are currently a lot of cities and states with large scale outbreaks at the moment. Thanks
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