title: 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).
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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung-Yup
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hae-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral