Postmarketing study of ORTHO EVRA and levonorgestrel oral contraceptives containing hormonal contraceptives with 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol in relation to nonfatal venous thromboembolism.
Author(s): Jick SS, Hagberg KW, Hernandez RK, Kaye JA
Affiliation(s): Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 11 Muzzey Street, Lexington, MA 02421, USA. sjick@bu.edu
Publication date & source: 2010-01, Contraception., 81(1):16-21.
Publication type: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
BACKGROUND: Concern has been raised that the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in users of the ORTHO EVRA patch is higher compared to users of oral contraceptives (OCs). STUDY DESIGN: We identified idiopathic cases of VTE and controls, matched on age and index date, from among women in the United States PharMetrics/IMS and MarketScan databases who were current users of the patch or levonorgestrel-containing OCs with 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The ORs (95% CI) for VTE in users of the patch compared to levonorgestrel-containing OCs were 2.0 (0.9-4.1) and 1.3 (0.8-2.1) in the PharMetrics and MarketScan databases, respectively. ORs (95% CI) restricted to women aged 39 years or younger were 1.4 (0.6-3.0) and 1.2 (0.7-2.0), respectively. CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence that the risk of idiopathic VTE in users of the patch is not materially different than that of users of levonorgestrel-containing OCs in women aged 39 years or younger. We cannot rule out some increase in the risk in women aged 40 years or older.
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