Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral contraceptives (OCs) on cardiovascular risk factors according to the duration of use.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of reproductive-age women. Subjects were classified into three groups based on OC use: non-users, short-term users (0–12 months) and long-term users (>12 months). Measurable cardiovascular risk factors, defined by 2009 consensus criteria, were included as metabolic syndrome components.
Results: Of the 2225 women surveyed, 1924 (86.5%) were non-users of OCs, 186 (8.4%) were short-term users and 115 (5.2%) were long-term users. The use of OCs for longer durations was not associated with increased levels of blood pressure or fasting glucose, or larger waist circumference. After adjusting the covariates, long-term OC use was associated significantly with elevated triglycerides (TG, >150 mg/dL) compared with non-users (odds ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–3.97). In addition, the use of OCs for longer durations was associated negatively with the risk of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (<50 mg/dL) (p for trend = 0.038).
Conclusion: These results suggest that the long-term use of OCs is associated with elevated TG. With the exception of lipid profile, it may be concluded that OCs are unlikely to affect cardiometabolic risk.
Acknowledgements
We thank the members of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who conducted the national survey and everyone who contributed to this project.