title: Clinical inquiries. What is the risk of adverse outcomes in a woman who develops mild hypertension from OCs?
abstract: Women who take oral contraceptives (OCs) have an increased risk of developing new hypertension, which returns to baseline within 1 to 3 months of OC cessation (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on cohort studies). Among large populations of women with hypertension from all causes, risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes is increased (SOR: B, based on Framingham data). Women with pre-existing hypertension who take OCs have an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction when compared with hypertensive women who do not (SOR: B, based on case-control studies).
authors.affiliation: Valley Family Medicine Residency, Renton, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Trisha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pollara
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelsberg
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Safranek
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schrager
mesh_terms: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018579:Patient Selection
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral