Propranolol Use and Risk of Primary Melanoma: A Single Institution Retrospective Study
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
The primary aims of our study were to identify the effects of propranolol on the rate of primary melanoma diagnoses compared to 14 control medications. We performed a single institution retrospective chart review at the University of Vermont Medical Center of 67,840 patients to determine the number of primary melanoma diagnoses within 5 years of initiating propranolol or the control medications of nadolol, metoprolol, labetolol, carvedilol, atenolol, timolol, pindolol, hydrochlorothiazide, lisinopril, losartan, sertraline, levetiracetam, levothyroxine, and rosuvastatin. Propranolol did not perform significantly differently in the prevention of new onset melanoma compared to any of the control medications. Additionally, there was no significant difference in melanoma outcomes when selective (metoprolol, atenolol) vs. nonselective (propranolol, nadolol, labetolol, carvedilol, timolol, pindolol) beta blockers were compared. Demographic factors associated with increased melanoma incidence were age, non-private insurance, rural status, and having a marital partner. Despite this study's limitation of retrospective design, these findings suggests that propranolol may not have the same preventative effect on new onset melanoma as it has been shown to have on recurrent melanoma. Prospective randomized controlled studies may further support this conclusion.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Melanie Bui, MD, PhD
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Maxwell Knapp (Graduate Student)
Status
Medical Students
Student College
Larner College of Medicine
Program/Major
Health Sciences
Primary Research Category
Health Sciences
Propranolol Use and Risk of Primary Melanoma: A Single Institution Retrospective Study
The primary aims of our study were to identify the effects of propranolol on the rate of primary melanoma diagnoses compared to 14 control medications. We performed a single institution retrospective chart review at the University of Vermont Medical Center of 67,840 patients to determine the number of primary melanoma diagnoses within 5 years of initiating propranolol or the control medications of nadolol, metoprolol, labetolol, carvedilol, atenolol, timolol, pindolol, hydrochlorothiazide, lisinopril, losartan, sertraline, levetiracetam, levothyroxine, and rosuvastatin. Propranolol did not perform significantly differently in the prevention of new onset melanoma compared to any of the control medications. Additionally, there was no significant difference in melanoma outcomes when selective (metoprolol, atenolol) vs. nonselective (propranolol, nadolol, labetolol, carvedilol, timolol, pindolol) beta blockers were compared. Demographic factors associated with increased melanoma incidence were age, non-private insurance, rural status, and having a marital partner. Despite this study's limitation of retrospective design, these findings suggests that propranolol may not have the same preventative effect on new onset melanoma as it has been shown to have on recurrent melanoma. Prospective randomized controlled studies may further support this conclusion.