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Blood pressure and risk of prostate cancer: cohort Norway (CONOR)

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Abstract

Background

Some studies suggest that raised blood pressure may increase prostate cancer risk. We investigated associations of blood pressure with prostate cancer within the CONOR collaborative cohorts of Norway.

Methods

Between 1994 and 2003, 82,098 men from ten population-based cohorts in Norway completed standardised questionnaires and physical examinations, including resting blood pressure. The unique 11-digit identification number of Norwegian citizens allowed linkage with the Cancer Registry of Norway.

Results

A total of 78,768 (96%) men who were cancer-free at baseline and average age of 50.3 years (standard deviation, SD: 15.2) were followed up for a mean of 9.15 years. 11.4% of these men used antihypertensive drugs at baseline. During follow-up (1994–2006), 1,974 incident prostate cancers were diagnosed. We found a 4% (95% confidence interval, CI = 0–9%) increased risk of prostate cancer per one SD (18.3 mmHg) increase in systolic blood pressure and similar findings for diastolic blood pressure (hazard ratio, HR: 1.05 per SD; 95% CI = 1.01–1.10). The association was stronger for advanced (HR: 1.16 per SD increase in systolic blood pressure; 95% CI = 1.05–1.27) compared with localised (1.01; 0.95–1.08) prostate cancer (p for heterogeneity in hazard ratios = 0.02).

Conclusions

Raised blood pressure was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, particularly advanced cancers at diagnosis. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these findings may provide biological insights into prostate carcinogenesis. Even if the association was causal, our data suggest that raised blood pressure would account for only 3% of prostate cancers, so the public health impact of this association may be limited.

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Acknowledgments

The hypothesis was developed by RMM, DG and LV. PR did the statistical analysis. RMM wrote the first draft of the manuscript with input on the methods from PR. RMM, DG, LV, and PR all critically commented on and edited earlier drafts and approved the final version of the paper. PR had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Data were obtained from Cohort of Norway (http://www.fhi.no/). The authors wish to acknowledge the services of CONOR, the contributing research centres delivering data to CONOR, and all the study participants.

Conflicts of interest statement

None to declare.

Funding

The study design, conduct and data collection were supported by the Norwegian Research Council. Analysis and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript were unfunded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK

    Richard M. Martin, Lars Vatten & David Gunnell

  2. Department of Public Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Lars Vatten & Pål Romundstad

Authors
  1. Richard M. Martin
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  2. Lars Vatten
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  3. David Gunnell
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  4. Pål Romundstad
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Correspondence to Richard M. Martin.

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Martin, R.M., Vatten, L., Gunnell, D. et al. Blood pressure and risk of prostate cancer: cohort Norway (CONOR). Cancer Causes Control 21, 463–472 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9477-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9477-x

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