Characteristics of finasteride users in comparison with non-users: a Nordic nationwide study based on individual-level data from Denmark, Finland, and Sweden

• Purpose: Published epidemiological studies on the association between finasterideuse and the risk of male breast cancer have been inconclusive due to methodologicallimitations including a few male breast cancer cases included. Determinants of malebreast cancer have been studied, but it remains unexplored whether these are alsorelated to finasteride use and thereby constitute potential confounders. This studyaimed to assess whether there are differences between finasteride users andnonusers with regard to numerous potential confounders.Methods: In total, 246 508 finasteride users (≥35 years) were identified in the pre-scription registries of Denmark (1995-2014), Finland (1997-2013), and Sweden(2005-2014). An equal number of nonusers were sampled. The directed acyclic graph(DAG) methodology was used to identify potential confounders for the associationbetween finasteride and male breast cancer. A logistic regression model comparedfinasteride users and nonusers with regard to potential confounders that were mea-surable in registries and population surveys.Results: Finasteride users had higher odds of testicular abnormalities (odds ratio[OR] 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-1.44), obesity (1.31; 1.23-1.39), exoge-nous testosterone (1.61; 1.48-1.74), radiation exposure (1.22; 1.18-1.27), and diabe-tes (1.07; 1.04-1.10) and lower odds of occupational exposure in perfume industry orin high temperature environments (0.93; 0.87-0.99), living alone (0.89; 0.88-0.91), liv-ing in urban/suburban areas (0.97; 0.95-0.99), and physical inactivity (0.70;0.50-0.99) compared to nonusers.Conclusions: Systematic differences between finasteride users and nonusers werefound emphasizing the importance of confounder adjustment of associationsbetween finasteride and male breast cancer.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

inasteride

pharmacoepidemiology

registries

surveys and questionnaires.

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)