Diseases of the Circulatory System

Abstract

This study consisting primarily of 29 tables collating hospital data on diseases of the circulatory system which may be side effects associated with oral contraceptive use concludes that no statistically significant risks of myocardial inifarction ischemic heart disease or cerebral thrombosis or ischemic cerebrovascular disease are associated with use of oral contraceptives. There were nonsignificant increases in risks of some of the manifestations of ischemic heart disease of cerebral thrombosis or ischemic cerebrovascular disease and diseases of the arteries (embolism and thrombosis); these appeared to be accounted for by synergistic effects between smoking and use of oral contraceptives. There were markedly increased risks of subarchnoid hemorrhage associated with OC use but the sample was small and undetermined confounding factors are suspected. This case-comparison anaylsis also found increased risk of idiopathic venous thromboembolism in OC users although diagnostic bias may affect the firmness of this association. Although not statistically siignficant the increased risks associated with OC use in heavy smokers were consistent and prominent. The following diseases of the circulatory system are given statistical treatment: hypertensive disease ischemic heart disease (including acute myocardial infarction and subacute ischemic heart problems) chronic ischemic disease angina pectoris subarachnoid hemorrhage cerebral hemorrhage occlusion of precerebral arteries cerebral thrombosis or ischemic cerebrovascular diseaase arterial diseases pulmonary embolism and infarction phlebitis and thrombophlebitis varicose veins of lower extremities and hemorrhoids.