Effect of 1995 pill scare on rates of venous thromboembolism among women taking combined oral contraceptives: analysis of General Practice Research Database

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 321; no. 7259; pp. 477 - 479
• Main Authors: Farmer, R D T, Williams, T J, Simpson, E L, Nightingale, A L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 19-08-2000; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group; British Medical Journal
• Edition: International edition
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Anxiety - etiology; Birth control; Case control studies; Confidence interval; Contraception; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined - adverse effects; Disease; Fear; Female; Females; General practice; Health risk assessment; Hormone replacement therapy; Humans; Incidence; Middle Aged; Oral contraceptives; Studies; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Venous thrombosis; Venous Thrombosis - chemically induced; Venous Thrombosis - epidemiology; Venous Thrombosis - psychology; Women; United Kingdom > UK; Northern Europe; Europe; United Kingdom; Contraception; Family Planning; Research Methodology; Embolism; Diseases; Studies; Developed Countries; Oral Contraceptives, Combined; Vascular Diseases; Contraceptive Methods; Research Report; Oral Contraceptives; Thromboembolism; Longitudinal Studies
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 0959-8146; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.321.7259.477

Abstract Objective: To compare the incidence of venous thromboembolism among women taking combined oral contraceptives before and after the October 1995 pill scare. Design: Analysis of General Practice Research Database. Setting: United Kingdom, January 1993 to December 1998. Subjects: Women aged 15–49 taking combined oral contraceptives. Main outcome measures: Incidence of venous thromboembolism. Results: Use of so called “third generation” combined oral contraceptives fell from 53% during January 1993 to October 1995 to 14% during November 1995 to December 1998. There was no significant change in the incidence of venous thromboembolism between the two periods after age was adjusted for (incidence ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.39). Conclusions: The findings are not compatible with the assertion that third generation oral contraceptives are associated with a twofold increase in risk of venous thromboembolism compared with older progestogens.