The risk of cancer in primary care patients with hypercalcaemia: a cohort study using electronic records |
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| Authors: | F Hamilton R Carroll W Hamilton C Salisbury |
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| Institution: | 1.University of Bristol, Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, Canyngne Hall, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK;2.University of Exeter, St Luke''s Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK |
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| Abstract: | Background: The risk of cancer with hypercalcaemia in primary care is unknown.Methods: This was a cohort study using calcium results in patients aged ⩾40 years in a primary care electronic data set. Diagnoses of cancer in the following year were identified.Results: Participants (54 267) had calcium results: 1674 (3%) were ⩾2.6 mmol l−1. Hypercalcaemia was strongly associated with cancer, especially in males: OR 2.92, 95% CI 2.17–3.93, P=<0.001; positive predictive value (PPV) 11.5% females: OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.39–2.50, P<0.001: PPV 4.1%.Conclusions: Hypercalcaemia is strongly associated with cancer in primary care, with men at most risk, despite hypercalcaemia being more common in women. |
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| Keywords: | hypercalcaemia calcium CPRD primary care GP |
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