Oral contraceptive use and measurable cardiovascular risk factors in Korean women aged 20-50 years: the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2009 (KNHANES IV).

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.