Long term use of anti acid drug may increase risk of bladder cancer, finds Study

The study is published in the American Journal of Gatroenterology.

Ranitidine has been shown to contain the carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine and increase urinary N-nitrosodimethylamine in humans. Cardwell, Chris R. and colleagues investigated whether ranitidine use is associated with increased bladder cancer risk.

A nested case-control study was conducted within the Primary Care Clinical Informatics Unit Research database. There were 3,260 cases and 14,037 controls. Bladder cancer cases were identified and matched with up to 5 controls (based on age, sex, general practice, and date of registration).

Ranitidine, other histamine-2 receptor agonists, and proton pump inhibitors were identified from prescribing records. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression after adjusting for comorbidities and smoking.

The following findings were highlighted and noted-

1. There was evidence of an increased risk of bladder cancer in ranitidine users, compared with nonusers (fully adjusted OR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.06–1.40), which was more marked with use for over 3 years of ranitidine (fully adjusted OR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.05–1.94).
2. By contrast, there was little evidence of any association between proton pump inhibitor use and bladder cancer risk based on any use (fully adjusted OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.88–1.11) or over 3 years of use (fully adjusted OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.80–1.20).

As a result, the authors concluded that "in this large population-based study, the use of ranitidine particularly long-term use was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Further studies are necessary to attempt to replicate this finding in other settings."

doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001310