The drugs -- particularly a short-acting form of certain calcium channel blockers -- have been the center of controversy in recent years, and have been linked to an increased risk of death if used in heart attack patients. Some researchers suggested that the drugs may also increase the risk of cancer.

"The claim that these drugs can cause cancer is not scientifically founded," said lead author Dr. Shimon Braun, of Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel. Braun and colleagues reviewed the records of 11,575 heart disease patients, aged 45 to 74 years old, who were originally screened for inclusion in another study.

At the screening visit, 5,611 patients received one of three calcium channel blockers -- nifedipine, diltiazem or verapamil -- and 5,543 patients did not receive a calcium channel blocker.

The patients in the study were treated between 1990 and 1992 with a short-acting form of the drugs, a formulation that is rarely used today. Most patients are now given "long-acting" forms of calcium channel blockers.

About 2.3% of calcium channel blocker users and 2.1% of nonusers developed cancer in the follow-up period of 34 months -- essentially the same. Among the patients who were cancer-free at the screening visit, 1.5% of calcium channel blocker users and 1.4% of nonusers died of cancer, according to the report in the March 15th issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Within an average follow-up period of 5.2 years, 14.4% of calcium channel blocker users and 12.7% of nonusers died from any cause, again essentially the same.

"Our analysis provides a certain assurance that calcium channel blocker use in middle-aged and elderly patients with coronary heart disease is not associated with a meaningful difference in mortality and cancer incidence," Braun's team concludes.

March 16, 98
SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology