Table 2.
Association between long term exposure* to benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine related drugs and cancer risk, overall and stratified by cancer type
| Cancer type | Cases | Controls | Crude OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR† (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposed/unexposed | Exposed/unexposed | |||
| All malignancies | 2 527/126 862 | 17 870/1 025 216 | 1.14 (1.09, 1.19) | 1.09 (1.04, 1.14) |
| Buccal cavity and pharynx | 82/3 253 | 410/27 637 | 1.63 (1.28, 2.09) | 1.04 (0.79, 1.36) |
| Oesophagus | 48/1 755 | 219/14 211 | 1.76 (1.27, 2.44) | 1.43 (1.01, 2.02) |
| Stomach | 60/2 418 | 366/19 451 | 1.35 (1.01, 1.78) | 1.40 (1.05, 1.88) |
| Colon | 248/11 059 | 1 980/87 994 | 0.99 (0.87, 1.14) | 1.03 (0.89, 1.18) |
| Rectum | 9/1 427 | 147/11 395 | 0.52 (0.26, 1.02) | 0.47 (0.24, 0.93) |
| Liver | 35/874 | 121/7 569 | 2.48 (1.67, 3.69) | 1.81 (1.18, 2.80) |
| Pancreas | 65/2 746 | 372/22 688 | 1.42 (1.08, 1.86) | 1.35 (1.02, 1.79) |
| Lung, bronchus and pleura | 462/14 860 | 2 195/123 083 | 1.74 (1.57, 1.93) | 1.38 (1.23, 1.54) |
| Melanoma of skin | 81/7 251 | 715/58 131 | 0.91 (0.72, 1.15) | 1.00 (0.78, 1.27) |
| Breast | 358/19 176 | 2 805/154 144 | 1.02 (0.92, 1.15) | 1.01 (0.90, 1.14) |
| Cervix uteri | 25/1 953 | 214/15 660 | 0.93 (0.61, 1.42) | 0.81 (0.52, 1.26) |
| Corpus uteri | 49/2 926 | 534/23 154 | 0.74 (0.54, 0.99) | 0.74 (0.54, 1.01) |
| Ovary, fallopian tube etc. | 43/2 340 | 339/18 690 | 1.00 (0.72, 1.39) | 1.03 (0.73, 1.45) |
| Prostate | 234/14 220 | 2 002/114 566 | 0.95 (0.83, 1.09) | 1.06 (0.92, 1.22) |
| Kidney | 52/2 375 | 281/19 451 | 1.50 (1.11, 2.04) | 1.39 (1.01, 1.91) |
| Urinary bladder | 161/7 792 | 1 223/63 000 | 1.07 (0.90, 1.27) | 1.00 (0.84, 1.19) |
| Brain | 27/2 548 | 200/20 379 | 1.04 (0.69, 1.56) | 0.95 (0.62, 1.45) |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 80/3 989 | 556/32 250 | 1.18 (0.93, 1.50) | 1.09 (0.85, 1.40) |
| Multiple myeloma | 29/1 611 | 259/12 852 | 0.88 (0.59, 1.31) | 0.95 (0.63, 1.42) |
| Leukaemia | 54/3 375 | 461/26 965 | 0.95 (0.71, 1.27) | 1.01 (0.75, 1.37) |
| Other | 325/18 914 | 2 471/151 946 | 1.05 (0.93, 1.18) | 0.99 (0.87, 1.11) |
| Tobacco-related cancers‡ | 1 431/60 083 | 9 035/488 073 | 1.28 (1.21, 1.36) | 1.15 (1.09, 1.22) |
| Remaining cancer sites | 1 096/66 779 | 8 835/537 143 | 1.00 (0.94, 1.07) | 1.01 (0.94, 1.08) |
| Alcohol-related cancers§ | 878/42 672 | 6 495/343 313 | 1.08 (1.01, 1.17) | 1.03 (0.95, 1.11) |
| Remaining cancer sites | 1 649/84 190 | 11 375/681 903 | 1.18 (1.12, 1.24) | 1.12 (1.06, 1.18) |
| Obesity-related cancers¶ | 919/46 470 | 7 163/372 295 | 1.03 (0.96, 1.10) | 1.02 (0.95, 1.09) |
| Remaining cancer sites | 1 608/80 392 | 10 707/652 921 | 1.22 (1.16, 1.29) | 1.13 (1.07, 1.20) |
Long term use was defined as ≥500 DDD within a period of 5 to 1 year prior to the index date.
Adjusted for use of aspirin, non-aspirin-NSAIDs, 5-α-reductase inhibitors, statins, angiotensin-II antagonists, oral contraceptives and hormone supplements, antidepressants, antipsychotics, diagnoses of inflammatory bowel disease, COPD, diabetes, alcohol abuse and Charlson Comorbidity Index score.
Cancers of the buccal cavity and pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, colorectum, liver, pancreas, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, larynx, lung, cervix, ovary, kidney, renal pelvis or ureter, urinary bladder or myeloid leukaemia [32].
Cancers of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, colorectum, liver, larynx or breast [33].
Cancers of the oesophagus, colorectum, pancreas, breast, endometrium or kidney [34].