CARDIOVASCULAR: Oral Contraceptive Use: More Carotid and Femoral Atheroschlerosis Later in Life

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 6th, 2007 Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida Oral Contraceptive Use: More Carotid and Femoral Atheroschlerosis Later in Life ERNST RIETZSCHEL, University of Ghent, Belgium COMMENT: JENNIFER MIERES, New York University REFERENCE: News Briefing Women who used the contraceptive pill had increases in atherosclerotic plaque in their carotid and femoral arteries of between 20 and 30 percent by the time they reached late middle age. This is the finding of the ASKLEPIOS study conducted by the University of Ghent in which plaque was measured by ultrasound in 2 500 healthy men and women. Ernst Rietzschel presented data from the study to the 2007 Sessions of the AHA, and afterwards discussed the findings with Peter Goodwin.