ACE inhibitors and lung cancer: Cardiologists are skeptical of the study

First, it is important: If you are taking ACE inhibitors for lower blood pressure, do not do this. Ask your doctor.

There is currently some excitement among cardiologists. The reason is a recent study by Canada's researchers who stated that they were often used Blood pressure lowering ACE inhibitors may cause lung cancer (At present). Well, sign up cardiologists speak. And they take the content of the study seriously, but critically – for two main reasons.

Critically Critical Cardiologists: Can ACE inhibitors really cause lung cancer?

The German Hypertension League and other doctors noted the study and clarified the validity of the study and the benefits and risks of antihypertensive drugs. Researchers have seen this drug for nearly one million patients in the 10-year period of hypertension and heart failure. It has become apparent that the risk of developing lung cancer has continued to increase among these patients as their duration of use has increased.

But this is just an observational study, explains the German pressurized league experts by the CEO, Prof. Dr. med. Bernhard Krämer. And the probative force of such a study is limited, he continues. Show only associations. Say, you may have a connection between ACE inhibitors and lung cancer, but you have proven it. To do this, additional tests are required to exclude interfering effects.

Lung cancer can be triggered by many people – the study ignores this

The problem of the case, and so the observation study, is that lung cancer is one of the so-called multifactorial diseases. This means that there is a lot of disease, especially smoking or obesity. Airborne contaminants and materials such as asbestos, arsenic, chromium or nickel can be of crucial importance and high alcohol consumption. In addition, for age and lung cancer, sex should be involved in accurate results. For example, about twice as many males like women are making lung cancer.

However, in the study, such factors are not disputed, doctors criticize the high-pressure championship. Thus, the group of patients treated with ACE inhibitors was much obese. In addition, the number of people taking nicotine dependence and alcohol consumption in this group was somewhat higher than in the control group. And on average the patients in the drug group were three years older.

"These differences may affect the outcome of the study and the risk of higher lung cancer in patients treated with ACE inhibitors," said cardiac experts.

Further tests are required

Even the authors of the study called for further examinations. Therefore, hasty conclusions should be avoided. "The probative value of the present study is therefore rather low," explains Prof. Dr. med. Bernhard Krämer. Instead, ACE inhibitors can significantly reduce hypertension in previous controlled trials, prevent heart failure, and greatly reduce cardiovascular disease and mitigation.

Professionals advise: Do not stop taking antihypertensive drugs!

"We hope the result will not stop the patients without starting the blood pressure reduction without consulting their GP," says Prof. Dr. med. Chandler. This may have serious consequences. Because if you do not treat high blood pressure, it can cause stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and dementia. The consequences are generally shorter than the development of cancer. Recognize the symptoms of high blood pressure and act as swiftly as possible: this is important.

"Insecure patients should therefore talk to their GPs and discuss the individual's risk, and if necessary, for example, if a patient is causing more family damage to lung cancer or a serious smoker, the doctor may consider another antihypertensive treatment. However, therapy for hypertension should be continued" explains the expert.

Earlier reports have been reported that ACE inhibitors increase the risk of cancer The Press Release of the German Press Association is here.