N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users

Background Since July 2018, numerous lots of valsartan have been found to be contaminated with N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). We aimed to assess the association between exposure to valsartan products contaminated with NDMA and the risk of cancer. Methods and Results This study was based on data from...

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Main Authors: Imène Mansouri, Jeremie Botton, Laura Semenzato, Nadia Haddy, Mahmoud Zureik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-12-01
Series:Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.122.026739
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author Imène Mansouri
Jeremie Botton
Laura Semenzato
Nadia Haddy
Mahmoud Zureik
author_facet Imène Mansouri
Jeremie Botton
Laura Semenzato
Nadia Haddy
Mahmoud Zureik
author_sort Imène Mansouri
collection DOAJ
description Background Since July 2018, numerous lots of valsartan have been found to be contaminated with N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). We aimed to assess the association between exposure to valsartan products contaminated with NDMA and the risk of cancer. Methods and Results This study was based on data from the Système National des Données de Santé, which is a national database that includes all French residents' health‐related expenses. The target population was consumers of valsartan between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017, aged between 40 and 80 years old. The association of exposure to contaminated valsartan with the occurrence of any malignancy and cancer by location was evaluated by fitting Cox proportional hazards models weighted by the inverse probability of treatment. A total of 1.4 million subjects without any history of cancer were included. A total of 986 126 and 670 388 patients were exposed to NDMA‐contaminated and uncontaminated valsartan, respectively. The use of the NDMA‐contaminated valsartan did not increase the overall risk of cancer (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98–1.0]). However, exposed patients had a higher risk of liver cancer (aHR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.04–1.22]) and melanoma (aHR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.03–1.18]). We estimated a mean of 3.7 and 5.8 extra cases per year per 100 000 person‐years of liver cancer and melanoma, respectively. Conclusions Our study was the largest to date to examine cancer risks associated with exposure to NDMA‐contaminated valsartan. Our findings suggest a slight increased risk of liver cancer and melanoma in patients exposed to NDMA in regularly taken medications.
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spelling doaj.art-6e5e07cb2f3049be979a4b67120e2b932023-02-07T16:03:49ZengWileyJournal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease2047-99802022-12-01112410.1161/JAHA.122.026739N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan UsersImène Mansouri0Jeremie Botton1Laura Semenzato2Nadia Haddy3Mahmoud Zureik4EPI‐PHARE (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety [ANSM] and French National Health Insurance [CNAM]) Saint‐Denis FranceEPI‐PHARE (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety [ANSM] and French National Health Insurance [CNAM]) Saint‐Denis FranceEPI‐PHARE (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety [ANSM] and French National Health Insurance [CNAM]) Saint‐Denis FranceCenter for Research Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), Radiation Epidemiology Team Université Paris‐Saclay, Université Paris‐Sud, UVSQ Villejuif FranceEPI‐PHARE (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety [ANSM] and French National Health Insurance [CNAM]) Saint‐Denis FranceBackground Since July 2018, numerous lots of valsartan have been found to be contaminated with N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). We aimed to assess the association between exposure to valsartan products contaminated with NDMA and the risk of cancer. Methods and Results This study was based on data from the Système National des Données de Santé, which is a national database that includes all French residents' health‐related expenses. The target population was consumers of valsartan between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017, aged between 40 and 80 years old. The association of exposure to contaminated valsartan with the occurrence of any malignancy and cancer by location was evaluated by fitting Cox proportional hazards models weighted by the inverse probability of treatment. A total of 1.4 million subjects without any history of cancer were included. A total of 986 126 and 670 388 patients were exposed to NDMA‐contaminated and uncontaminated valsartan, respectively. The use of the NDMA‐contaminated valsartan did not increase the overall risk of cancer (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98–1.0]). However, exposed patients had a higher risk of liver cancer (aHR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.04–1.22]) and melanoma (aHR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.03–1.18]). We estimated a mean of 3.7 and 5.8 extra cases per year per 100 000 person‐years of liver cancer and melanoma, respectively. Conclusions Our study was the largest to date to examine cancer risks associated with exposure to NDMA‐contaminated valsartan. Our findings suggest a slight increased risk of liver cancer and melanoma in patients exposed to NDMA in regularly taken medications.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.122.026739health claims dataliver cancermelanomaN‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)valsartan
spellingShingle Imène Mansouri
Jeremie Botton
Laura Semenzato
Nadia Haddy
Mahmoud Zureik
N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users
Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
health claims data
liver cancer
melanoma
N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
valsartan
title N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users
title_full N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users
title_fullStr N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users
title_full_unstemmed N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users
title_short N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐Contaminated Valsartan and Risk of Cancer: A Nationwide Study of 1.4 Million Valsartan Users
title_sort n nitrosodimethylamine contaminated valsartan and risk of cancer a nationwide study of 1 4 million valsartan users
topic health claims data
liver cancer
melanoma
N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
valsartan
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.122.026739
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