Impact of beta-blockers on prostate cancer mortality: a meta-analysis of 16,825 patients

INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence suggests that beta-blocker use might be associated with reduced mortality in prostate cancer patients. To provide a quantitative assessment of this association, we pooled data available to examine the association between beta-blocker use and mortality of prostate cancer. METHODS We identified studies by a literature search of MEDLINE (from 1 January 1966) and EMBASE (from 1 January 1974), through 10 September 2014, and by searching the reference lists of pertinent articles. Two authors independently screened and reviewed the eligibility of each study. The primary outcomes were prostate cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality. RESULTS A total of four studies including 16,825 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Analysis of all studies showed that beta-blocker use was associated with reduced prostate cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio =0.85, 95% confidence interval =0.77-0.94), without any heterogeneity between studies (Q=3.59, I2=16.5%, P=0.309). However, we observed no association with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio =0.97, 95% confidence interval =0.90-1.04). There was also no evidence of the presence of significant heterogeneity between the four studies (Q=2.48, I2=0.0%, P=0.480). CONCLUSION These findings indicate that beta-blocker use was associated with reduced cancer-specific mortality among prostate cancer patients taking beta-blockers.