October 26, 2018 (Medical News Today)
Those with hypertension commonly use angiotensin converting inhibitor drugs (ACEIs) to treat it, and these drugs are believed to be effective and safe when used for short periods of time.
However, earlier studies have indicated ACEIs may increase cancer risk, and a study published in The BMJ has shown the use of ACEIs is correlated with an increase in lung cancer risk. This study had looked into the medical records of almost 1 million patients in the United Kingdom that had started taking ACEIs between 1995 and 2015. Around 8,000 of these patients had been diagnosed with lung cancer, which showed that those taking ACEIs had a 14% increased risk for developing lung cancer compared to those taking angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which is a difference treatment drug for hypertension.
As the amount of time patients used ACEIs increased so did their risk for developing lung cancer, with those taking ACEIs for over a decade having a 31% higher risk for lung cancer.
It is important to note that other factors may be involved here, but this research should be taken into account when patients decide whether or not they should use ACEIs, and if they do, to make sure they do not use them for extended periods of time.