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EPIDEMIOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
Hypertension and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
with 2,497,898 participants
1
Chair of Preclinical Science, Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics with e-Health Lab, Medical University of Lublin, Poland,, Poland
2
University Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin, Poland, Poland
3
Gynecology Unit, Specialistic Medical Center Czechow, Lublin, Poland, Poland
4
University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, Poland, Poland
5
School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, Poland
Submission date: 2025-03-11
Final revision date: 2025-08-22
Acceptance date: 2025-09-05
Online publication date: 2025-11-28
Corresponding author
Agnieszka Drab
Chair of Preclinical Science, Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics with e-Health Lab, Medical University of Lublin, Poland,, Lublin, Poland
Chair of Preclinical Science, Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics with e-Health Lab, Medical University of Lublin, Poland,, Lublin, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women, and is an important source of cancer-related mortality, particularly in developed countries. Scientific studies show that hypertension may play a significant role in the initiation of cancer. Therefore, we carried out the first meta-analysis to comprehensively examine the association between hypertension and ovarian cancer risk.
Material and methods:
We performed a literature search of all of the observational studies published as original articles from inception to July 2024 and we searched the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Finally, we included ten full-text cohort and case-control studies addressing the effect of hypertension on ovarian cancer in this meta-analysis. The our study was preregistered with the PROSPERO:CRD42024565574 and followed the PRISMA statement. Effect size was presented as risk ratios(RRs). Heterogeneity test evaluation was performed using Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistics.
Results:
The meta-analysis included a total of 2,497,898 women. There was a statistically significant association (RR=1.10,1.02–1.23, p<0.011) between hypertension and ovarian cancer risk. Subgroup analysis showed that parity may significantly reduce the ovarian cancer risk, which was higher among woman who had never given birth (RR=1.43,p<0.002), while a body mass index >25 increased the risk of ovarian cancer (RR=1.12,p<0.001).
Conclusions:
Findings of this comprehensive review and meta-analysis indicate that hypertension is associated with higher overall risk of ovarian cancer. The data presented in our study are novel, but from a future perspective, we hope that this meta-analysis will encourage researchers to conduct further studies to assess the effect of hypertension on ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women, and is an important source of cancer-related mortality, particularly in developed countries. Scientific studies show that hypertension may play a significant role in the initiation of cancer. Therefore, we carried out the first meta-analysis to comprehensively examine the association between hypertension and ovarian cancer risk.
Material and methods:
We performed a literature search of all of the observational studies published as original articles from inception to July 2024 and we searched the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Finally, we included ten full-text cohort and case-control studies addressing the effect of hypertension on ovarian cancer in this meta-analysis. The our study was preregistered with the PROSPERO:CRD42024565574 and followed the PRISMA statement. Effect size was presented as risk ratios(RRs). Heterogeneity test evaluation was performed using Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistics.
Results:
The meta-analysis included a total of 2,497,898 women. There was a statistically significant association (RR=1.10,1.02–1.23, p<0.011) between hypertension and ovarian cancer risk. Subgroup analysis showed that parity may significantly reduce the ovarian cancer risk, which was higher among woman who had never given birth (RR=1.43,p<0.002), while a body mass index >25 increased the risk of ovarian cancer (RR=1.12,p<0.001).
Conclusions:
Findings of this comprehensive review and meta-analysis indicate that hypertension is associated with higher overall risk of ovarian cancer. The data presented in our study are novel, but from a future perspective, we hope that this meta-analysis will encourage researchers to conduct further studies to assess the effect of hypertension on ovarian cancer.
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