Is the Risk of Bladder Cancer Elevated in Patients Taking CVD-Preventing Medications?

A study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention observed that no relevant association between the use of certain cardiovascular disease (CVD)-preventing treatments, such as aspirin, statins, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and the risk of bladder cancer. However, the findings indicated a potentially favorable role for CCBs. 

Researchers analyzed data from a multicentric, case-controlled study conducted in Italy between 2003 and 2014. The study compared 690 patients with bladder cancer and 665 hospital controls. 

Risk of bladder cancer and specific CVD-preventing medications

The findings indicated the following odds ratios (ORs) for bladder cancer in association with: 

• regular aspirin use: 1.21 (95% CI, 0.87-1.68) 
• any CCB use: 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54-0.97) 
• any statin use: 1.32 (95% CI, 0.87-1.99) 

An inverse risk?

There was a slight inverse association between bladder cancer risk and duration of CCB use.  

There was no consistent association found with duration of use, age at first use, or frequency for aspirin and statin use. There was also no consistent association found with indication of use for aspirin, such as an analgesic or for CVD prevention. There was also no significant association found for various combinations of these drugs (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.31-4.85). 

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Source: European Journal of Cancer Prevention