| High blood pressure is an important risk factor for | | | | one year of follow up were included. |
| heart disease and is treated by various anti | | | | Total 5 clinical trials were included in the analysis, |
| hypertensive medications. Angiotensin receptor | | | | which included total of 61,590 participants. The |
| blockers (ARB) are established and proven medication | | | | researchers assessed the risk of cancer associated |
| for patients with high blood pressure and also, | | | | with ARBs medication. The results of meta analysis |
| prevent deaths due to heart disease. ARBs are | | | | showed that there was an increased risk of cancer in |
| medications which blocks the effect of Angiotensin II | | | | patients taking ARBs compared with people not |
| and thus leading to dilation of blood vessels which | | | | taking ARBs. It was seen that risk of new cancer |
| results in reduction in blood pressure. However, a | | | | development was 8% higher in patients taking ARBs |
| recent research has found that patients on this | | | | compared to non ARB users. Additionally, no |
| medication are somewhat more prone to be | | | | difference was observed between the ARB and non |
| diagnosed with the cancer than those not consuming | | | | ARB groups in risk of cancer related deaths. |
| it. | | | | In conclusion, the report said that ARBs are linked |
| Blood pressure lowering drugs may cause cancer. This | | | | with a slightly increased risk of new cancer diagnosis. |
| finding was based on a systemic review and meta | | | | This study does not prove that ARBs cause cancer, |
| analysis of various clinical trials. Such review provides | | | | but the data from this systematic review is |
| a significant mean to find the overall effect of | | | | suggestive of a link with increased risk that requires |
| various treatments. This report included the results of | | | | further investigation in this area. |
| trials done on currently available ARBs and was more | | | | There is no reason to panic in case you are taking |
| specifically focused on effects of ARBs on new | | | | any medication that are said to be causing cancer. |
| cancer development and deaths from cancer. Various | | | | You should try to visit your doctor and ask for a |
| scientific databases were searched and clinical trials | | | | possible alternative that you could take. Also the risk |
| which included at least 100 patients were considered | | | | is only slightly more than in people who do not take |
| for analysis. Special care was taken in selection of | | | | the ARBs. There could be other factors which could |
| trials as cancer is a rare adverse event which takes | | | | be responsible for the causation of cancer apart from |
| longer time to develop and hence only studies with | | | | the drugs themselves. |