July 15, 2020

Hydrochlorothiazide and risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is thought to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadians. There are two main types of NMSC, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and common risk factors include race/ethnicity, altitude, occupation and ultraviolet exposure. Hydrochlorothiazide, a widely prescribed antihypertensive agent, can increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. Our objective is to to determine if hydrochlorothiazide is associated with NMSC in adults and, if so, to determine if there is a cumulative dose-response relationship. We will also look for associations between the risk of melanoma and hydrochlorothiazide. We will use clinical cohort data from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath), linked with administrative data collected by provincial Ministries of Health, and MarketScan.

For more information, contact: Autumn Neville, Research Coordinator. autumn.neville@rimuhc.ca

This research is funded by CIHR-DSENĀ 
Lead investigator: Dr. Sasha Bernatsky
Query 19-05 raised by Health Canada, Marketed Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau (MPMDB)Marketed Health Products Directorate (MHPD)