Key Points
- To assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between oral contraceptive use and changes in blood pressure levels.
- Analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal blood pressure data from a cohort of 13,358 women across consecutive clinic visits.
- Oral contraceptive use was associated with a statistically significant, reversible increase in mean blood pressure of 5 to 6 mm Hg systolic and 1 to 2 mm Hg diastolic (P < .05).
- The age-adjusted proportion of oral contraceptive users presenting with blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg was approximately three times higher than that of nonusers due to a uniform upward distribution shift.
- Women who continued oral contraceptive use between two clinic visits demonstrated no appreciably greater change in blood pressure compared with persistent nonusers.
Structured PICO
Does oral contraceptive use increase blood pressure in women?
IInterventionOral contraceptive use
CComparatorNonusers of oral contraceptives
OOutcomeMean blood pressure and proportion of women with blood pressure over 140/90 mm Hgsurrogate
Oral contraceptive use causes a mild, reversible elevation in blood pressure, significantly increasing the proportion of women with hypertension.