Abstract
Background
A recent epidemiological study systematically screened 250 prescription medications for associations with oesophageal cancer risk, using Scottish data, and identified an increased risk with use of prednisolone and warfarin. We investigated whether oral prednisolone or warfarin use was associated with increased oesophageal cancer risk.
Methods
A case-control study was conducted within the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. In the primary analysis oesophageal cancer cases were identified from linked cancer registry records. Up to 5 cancer-free controls were matched to each case (based upon sex, birth year, GP practice and year of GP registration). Prednisolone and warfarin medications were identified from prescribing records. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using conditional logistic regression after adjusting for covariates including demographics, comorbidities and medication use.
Results
There were 4,552 oesophageal cancer cases and 22,601 matched control participants.
Overall, there was no evidence of an increased risk of oesophageal cancer risk with oral prednisolone use (unadjusted OR=1.16 95% CI 1.06, 1.27 and adjusted OR=0.99 95% CI 0.89, 1.11) or warfarin use (unadjusted OR=1.12 95% CI 0.99, 1.28 and adjusted OR=1.08 95% CI 0.92, 1.27).
Conclusions
In this large population-based study, oral prednisolone and warfarin were not
associated with oesophageal cancer risk.
A recent epidemiological study systematically screened 250 prescription medications for associations with oesophageal cancer risk, using Scottish data, and identified an increased risk with use of prednisolone and warfarin. We investigated whether oral prednisolone or warfarin use was associated with increased oesophageal cancer risk.
Methods
A case-control study was conducted within the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. In the primary analysis oesophageal cancer cases were identified from linked cancer registry records. Up to 5 cancer-free controls were matched to each case (based upon sex, birth year, GP practice and year of GP registration). Prednisolone and warfarin medications were identified from prescribing records. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using conditional logistic regression after adjusting for covariates including demographics, comorbidities and medication use.
Results
There were 4,552 oesophageal cancer cases and 22,601 matched control participants.
Overall, there was no evidence of an increased risk of oesophageal cancer risk with oral prednisolone use (unadjusted OR=1.16 95% CI 1.06, 1.27 and adjusted OR=0.99 95% CI 0.89, 1.11) or warfarin use (unadjusted OR=1.12 95% CI 0.99, 1.28 and adjusted OR=1.08 95% CI 0.92, 1.27).
Conclusions
In this large population-based study, oral prednisolone and warfarin were not
associated with oesophageal cancer risk.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cancer Epidemiology |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 1 Mar 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Acknowledgements:This work was supported by Cancer Research UK (reference C37316/A25535). The sponsors had no involvement with the planning, execution, or completion of the study. This study is based in part on data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink obtained under licence from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The data is provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. The National Cancer Registration Dataset Copyright © (2020) was re-used with the permission of The Health & Social Care Information Centre. All rights reserved. The interpretation and conclusions contained in this study are those of the author/s alone.
Data Availability Statement
The data used in this study were obtained under licence from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). The licence agreement does not allow data sharing.Keywords
- Corticosteroids
- Oesophageal cancer
- Epidemiology
- Prednisolone
- Warfarin.
