CONTRACEPTION & FAMILY PLANNING | Long-Term Oral Contraceptive Use Could Increase Risk of Heart Disease, Study Says
[Nov. 8, 2007]

Women who use oral contraceptives for long periods of time might have an increased risk of heart disease due to increases in artery-clogging plaque, according to a study presented Tuesday at an American Heart Association conference in Orlando, Fla., the AP/Washington Post reports.

For the study, Ernst Rietzschel of the Ghent University in Belgium and colleagues examined about 1,300 healthy women ages 35 to 55, about 81% of whom had taken oral contraceptives for more than one year at some point. Many women who participated in the study took oral contraceptives released in the mid-1960s, which had twice the estrogen levels in most pills sold today, the AP/Post reports.

The study's researchers conducted ultrasounds of arteries in the women's legs and necks, finding a 20% to 30% increased prevalence of plaque for every 10 years of oral contraceptive use. According to Rietzschel, the plaques were considered "small" and not large enough to block an artery. The AP/Post reports that any plaque is thought to increase heart disease risk (Marchione, AP/Washington Post, 11/6).

A woman's risk of having plaque in one carotid artery in the neck increased by 17% and in both carotids by 42% for every 10 years of oral contraceptive use. The risk of plaque in one femoral artery increased by 28% and in both femoral arteries by 34% for every 10 years of use, the study found (Sternberg, USA Today, 11/7). In addition, the study found that the risk of plaque increased about 2% for each year of oral contraceptive use.

The study's researchers adjusted for other factors -- including smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, alcohol use, diet and exercise -- the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports (Fauber, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 11/6). They said more studies are needed to confirm the findings (USA Today, 11/7).

According to the researchers, more than 80% of U.S. women born between 1947 and 1967 used oral contraceptives for a minimum of one year, with most women using them for about 13 years (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 11/6). About 12 million U.S. women currently use oral contraceptives, according to the CDC (USA Today, 11/7).

Reaction

Daniel Jones, a University of Mississippi cardiologist and president of the American Heart Association, said, "It could be an important study," but he added that researchers should test the finding in larger and more rigorous studies, where one group of women receives oral contraceptives and another group does not. Researchers also should examine the women's health for an extended period of time afterward (AP/Washington Post, 11/7).

Rietzschel said that women who use oral contraceptives should not "panic" but should take other steps to reduce their risk for heart disease, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking and monitoring cholesterol. Gordon Tomaselli, a Johns Hopkins University cardiologist and AHA official, called the findings "eye-opening," adding that women should consider the findings before deciding whether to use oral contraceptives (Dunham, Reuters, 11/6).

JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, added that the study should not "be a cause for alarm among women," as previous studies have found no large increase in heart attacks among women taking oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives already are known to slightly increase the risk of blood clots and high blood pressure, Manson said, adding that any additional risk of heart attack or stroke could be related (AP/Washington Post, 11/6).

ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday included a discussion with ABC News medical editor Timothy Johnson about the study (Sawyer, "Good Morning America," ABC, 11/7). Video of the segment and expanded ABC News coverage are available online.

In addition, NBC's "Nightly News" on Tuesday included a discussion with NBC News health correspondent Nancy Snyderman about the study (Williams, "Nightly News," NBC, 11/7). Video of the segment is available online.





The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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