Incidence of cancer in postmyocardial infarction patients treated with short-acting nifedipine and diltiazem. Secondary Prevention Group.
BACKGROUND
Recent reports suggest a possible link between nifedipine (but not diltiazem) and an increased risk of cancer in patients being treated with calcium antagonists.


METHODS
A total of 1054 postmyocardial infarction patients were divided randomly into those being treated with calcium antagonists (n = 566 [nifedipine, 425 patients and diltiazem, 141 patients]) and controls (no calcium antagonist; n = 488). The patients were followed for 26.3 months, and the incidences of cardiac events as well as cancer were compared among the 3 groups.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (2.7%) in the control group developed cancer, whereas 15 patients in the nifedipine group (3.5%; odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.63-2.85) and 3 patients in the diltiazem group (2.1%; odds ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.27-2.93) developed cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Diltiazem appears to present no increased risk of cancer. The incidence of cancer was slightly higher in the patients receiving nifedipine than in those not being treated with a calcium antagonist, which is consistent with earlier reports; however, this increase was not statistically significant.
Kanamasa
K
K
The First Department of Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan.
Kimura
A
A
Miyataka
M
M
Takenaka
T
T
Ishikawa
K
K
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine