ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HYPERTENSION AND THE RISK OF CANCER: EVIDENCE FROM UK BIOBANK

Objective: Hypertension has become a worldwide epidemic and is closely related to the occurrence of cancer, but there is still a lack of relevant evidence related to this relationship. This study investigated the link between hypertension and cancer incidence, along with the impact of antihypertensive medications on cancer development. Design and method: From 2006 to 2010, 248,325 individuals were enrolled in the UK Biobank, with 23,120 diagnosed with hypertension at the baseline. Throughout the follow-up period, 21,928 participants received new cancer diagnoses, categorized by ICD-10 codes. The influence of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment on cancer incidence was assessed using cox regression analysis, with adjustments for sociodemographic factors like age, BMI, and other pertinent variables. Mendelian randomization has also been used to examine the effects of antihypertensive drugs on cancer. Results: Participants with hypertension exhibited a higher risk of cancer development compared to those without hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19–1.28). This elevated risk was particularly noted for breast cancer [aHR (95% CI) = 1.19 (1.07–1.37)], lung cancer [aHR (95% CI) = 1.6 (1.41–1.81)], kidney cancer [aHR (95% CI) = 1.97 (1.59–2.44)], and melanoma [aHR (95% CI) = 1.32 (1.12–1.56)]. However, with the results from both cox regression and Mendelian randomization, the study found that antihypertensive treatments did not significantly affect cancer risk. Conclusions: Hypertension is linked to a heightened risk of various cancer types. However, the utilization of antihypertensive medications exhibits limited efficacy in mitigating this risk. This study provides evidence to further investigate the intricate relationship between hypertension and cancer. Furthermore, it offers guidance aimed at alleviating concerns among hypertensive patients regarding potential long-term reliance on antihypertensive drugs.