The effect of Bevacizumab treatment on the incidence of hypertension in patients with ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction This study aims to evaluate the effect of bevacizumab treatment on the incidence of hypertension in patients with ovarian cancer. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases was conducted until August 2024. We included only randomized clinical trials that compared ovarian cancer patients treated with Bevacizumab to those treated with other therapies. The primary outcome was the relative risk (RR) of developing hypertension, stratified by grade. Statistical analyses were performed using a random-effects model to account for heterogeneity between studies. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on hypertension severity (grade ≥2 and grade ≥3) and disease stage. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments were also performed. Results A total of 11 randomized trials were included, comprising 5212 patients. The meta-analysis revealed that patients receiving Bevacizumab had a significantly higher risk of hypertension compared to controls (RR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.65–5.16, P = 0.0002). Subgroup analysis showed that the risk of grade ≥2 hypertension was 1.68 times higher (95% CI: 0.92–3.07), and grade ≥3 hypertension was 5.10 times higher (95% CI: 2.46–10.55) in the Bevacizumab group. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings, and no significant publication bias was detected. Conclusion Bevacizumab treatment in ovarian cancer significantly increases the risk of hypertension, particularly severe hypertension (grade ≥3). These findings underscore the need for vigilant blood pressure monitoring and management in patients receiving Bevacizumab to mitigate cardiovascular complications and optimize treatment outcomes.