title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the incidence of cancer in randomized, controlled trials of verapamil.
abstract: We conducted a systematic review of all published randomized, controlled trials to assess the risk of cancer or death in patients receiving verapamil for hypertension, angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmias. Meta-analysis comparing the risk of new cancers, cancer deaths, and all deaths was performed. Thirty-nine trials comprising 11,201 patients were eligible. Study durations ranged from 8 days-6 years (mean 29.5 wks). Nine trials (6507 patients) were 24 weeks in duration or longer. For cancer and cancer death, OR was 1.20 (95% CI = 0.60-2.42) for verapamil versus active controls and 0.73 (95% CI = 0.39-1.39) for verapamil versus placebo. For all deaths, OR was 1.13 (95% CI = 0.70-1.82) for verapamil versus active controls and 0.85 (95% CI = 0.71-1.00) for verapamil versus placebo. Sensitivity analysis for the 9 trials 24 weeks' duration or longer gave similar results. There is no statistically significant increased risk of cancer or deaths with verapamil compared with active controls or placebo.
authors.affiliation: MetaWorks, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02210, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Borden
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yorzyk
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Passov
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kupelnick
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014700:Verapamil / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil