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Antihypertensive Medication as a Risk Factor For Basal Cell Carcinoma : A Nationwide Registry-based Case-control Study

Kappelin, Johan LU ; Ahnlide, Ingela LU ; Christensen, Gustav B. LU ; Ingvar, Åsa LU orcid and Nielsen, Kari LU orcid (2025) In Acta Dermato-Venereologica 105.
Abstract

Hydrochlorothiazide has been associated with increased cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma risk. Meanwhile, its association with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk is controversial. The association between commonly prescribed antihypertensive medications and BCC risk in the Swedish population was investigated. All cases with a histopathologically verified BCC in Sweden during 2007–2017 and 2 matched controls per case were included in this nationwide, registrybased, case-control study. Information on prescribed antihypertensive drugs, comorbidities, co-medications, and socioeconomic factors was retrieved from nationwide registries. The odds of being treated with any of the chosen treatments in relation to BCC diagnosis were estimated. In... (More)

Hydrochlorothiazide has been associated with increased cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma risk. Meanwhile, its association with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk is controversial. The association between commonly prescribed antihypertensive medications and BCC risk in the Swedish population was investigated. All cases with a histopathologically verified BCC in Sweden during 2007–2017 and 2 matched controls per case were included in this nationwide, registrybased, case-control study. Information on prescribed antihypertensive drugs, comorbidities, co-medications, and socioeconomic factors was retrieved from nationwide registries. The odds of being treated with any of the chosen treatments in relation to BCC diagnosis were estimated. In total, 133,539 cases and 257,849 controls were studied. Thiazide-containing combination treatments (OR 1.09), angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR 1.09), calcium channel blockers (OR 1.09), and beta-blockers (OR 1.07) were associated with an increased BCC risk. Use of single-agent thiazide treatment did not affect BCC risk. In conclusion, statistically significant associations were found between several commonly prescribed antihypertensives and an increased BCC risk. Thiazide treatment affected BCC risk only when given as combination treatment, indicating that relevant adjunctive substances should be studied further in relation to BCC risk. Presently, it is suggested that prevention efforts focus on UV protection rather than altering antihypertensive treatments.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
basal cell carcinoma, epidemiology, hypertension, pharmacology, skin cancer
in
Acta Dermato-Venereologica
volume
105
article number
adv42749
publisher
Medical Journals Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:105016769691
  • pmid:40985575
ISSN
0001-5555
DOI
10.2340/actadv.v105.42749
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © Author(s).
id
db96c540-97b6-44ec-a5ea-2275925fb98e
date added to LUP
2025-12-09 11:11:01
date last changed
2025-12-10 03:25:56
@article{db96c540-97b6-44ec-a5ea-2275925fb98e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Hydrochlorothiazide has been associated with increased cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma risk. Meanwhile, its association with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk is controversial. The association between commonly prescribed antihypertensive medications and BCC risk in the Swedish population was investigated. All cases with a histopathologically verified BCC in Sweden during 2007–2017 and 2 matched controls per case were included in this nationwide, registrybased, case-control study. Information on prescribed antihypertensive drugs, comorbidities, co-medications, and socioeconomic factors was retrieved from nationwide registries. The odds of being treated with any of the chosen treatments in relation to BCC diagnosis were estimated. In total, 133,539 cases and 257,849 controls were studied. Thiazide-containing combination treatments (OR 1.09), angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR 1.09), calcium channel blockers (OR 1.09), and beta-blockers (OR 1.07) were associated with an increased BCC risk. Use of single-agent thiazide treatment did not affect BCC risk. In conclusion, statistically significant associations were found between several commonly prescribed antihypertensives and an increased BCC risk. Thiazide treatment affected BCC risk only when given as combination treatment, indicating that relevant adjunctive substances should be studied further in relation to BCC risk. Presently, it is suggested that prevention efforts focus on UV protection rather than altering antihypertensive treatments.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kappelin, Johan and Ahnlide, Ingela and Christensen, Gustav B. and Ingvar, Åsa and Nielsen, Kari}},
  issn         = {{0001-5555}},
  keywords     = {{basal cell carcinoma; epidemiology; hypertension; pharmacology; skin cancer}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Medical Journals Limited}},
  series       = {{Acta Dermato-Venereologica}},
  title        = {{Antihypertensive Medication as a Risk Factor For Basal Cell Carcinoma : A Nationwide Registry-based Case-control Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v105.42749}},
  doi          = {{10.2340/actadv.v105.42749}},
  volume       = {{105}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}