Impact of oral contraceptive use on the characteristics and clinical evolution of women undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Background In Brazil, it is estimated that approximately 27% of women of childbearing age use oral contraceptives (OC). The presentation and clinical course of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in these women has yet to be described in Brazil. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical profile, angiographic characteristics, technical aspects of the procedure, and the outcomes in women using OC who had an AMI and were submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Women aged < 55 years who had acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarct and were referred to primary PCI were sequentially included and categorized into two groups: with and without current use of OC. Results We have included 257 patients, of whom 19 (7.4%) used OC. These patients were younger (42.3 ± 6.2 years vs. 48.4 ± 5.7 years; p < 0.001), with fewer traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease, but had higher serum levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. The delta T was similar (4.00 [1.25 to 6.86] hours vs. 4.50 [2.50 to 7.64] hours; p = 0.54), but the door-to-balloon time was longer in patients taking OC (1.41 [0.58 to 1.73] hours vs. 1.16 [0.91 to 1.51] hour, p = 0.02). These patients were more frequently submitted to thrombus aspiration (52.6% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.04). After the index event, they had no atherothrombotic outcomes in up to 2 years of follow-up (0 vs. 15.2%; p = 0.08). Conclusions In this study, different clinical profiles and outcomes were found among women of reproductive age, users or non-users of OC, and submitted to primary PCI. Studies with a larger number of patients are required to confirm these results.