Kaneko H, Yano Y, Itoh H, et al. - A higher risk for incident colorectal cancer (CRC) was observed in relation to higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and stage 2 hypertension. This observation was true even for those without shared risk factors for CRC. People carrying an elevated risk for subsequent CRC could be identified through blood pressure (BP) measurements.

• A nationwide health claims database was used to include participants with normal BP (n=1,164,807), elevated BP (n=341,273), stage 1 hypertension (n=466,298), or stage 2 hypertension (n=247,734).

• Relative to normal BP, hazard ratios for incident CRC were 0.93 for increased BP, 1.07 for stage 1 hypertension, and 1.17 for stage 2 hypertension following multivariable adjustment.

• For each 10‐mm Hg‐higher SBP or DBP, the estimated hazard ratios for incident CRC were 1.04 and 1.06, respectively.

• These links existed in adults who did not have obesity, high waist circumference, diabetes, or dyslipidemia.