Blood pressure drugs named angiotensin-receptor blockers have been found to be associated with a higher risk of cancer, an evaluation stated.

It was concluded by analyzing the data of more than 60,000 cases that the patients who were prescribed these drugs had 1.2% more risk of developing cancer as compared to others. The analysis was conducted by Ilke Sipahi and colleagues from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland as they observed all available public data on the matter.

For knowing the exact role of these drugs in encouraging caner growth, more in-depth studies are needed. The finding is “disturbing and provocative”, said Cardiologist Steven Nissen, of U. S. News's Health Advice Experts.

The findings, published online in the Lancet Oncology, recommends the doctors to be more careful while prescribing angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs).

The drug, commonly used in the treatment of high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney damage due to diabetes, is also associated with a modest increase in the risk of developing cancer, it said.

These drugs function by obstructing receptors for angiotensin II, which is a hormone that is responsible for increasing blood pressure.

Prior to the finding, ARBs were not associated to any other major side effects but the recent study claims that it is associated with a very high risk of deadly cancers.