Pattern of Fasting Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index among Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC) Pills Users in Chencha, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The use of contraceptives has become prevalent among women in Ethiopia. Oral contraceptive use has been suggested to trigger changes in glucose metabolism, energy expenditure, blood pressure, and body weight, among the various populations and ethnic groups. Objective: To elucidate the pattern of fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) among combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills users, taking into account other confounding factors including socioeconomic conditions and physical activity status. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 110 healthy women using pills were recruited as cases. Another 110 healthy women not using any hormonal contraceptives were recruited as matched controls. A study was conducted between October 2018 and January 2019. Fasting Capillary blood sample was collected from the study participants for the estimation of the FBS level. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured and means arterial blood pressure was calculated for each participant. Body weight and height were measured to compute body mass index. Data obtained was entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 software packages. Results: FBS level in users was significantly increased compared to controls (88.55 ± 7.89 vs. 86.00 ± 9.85 in users and controls respectively, P = 0.025). There was a significant difference in mean arterial blood pressure of users compared to controls (88.2 ± 8.48 vs. 86.0 ± 6.74 respectively, P=0.04). The mean weight and body mass index of users were significantly increased (P = 0.03 and P = 0.003, respectively). Changes in mean fasting blood sugar level and mean weight of users were independent (P = 0.27 and P = 0.46) to the duration of use (3-12, 13-24 and ≥ 25 months). On the other hand, changes in mean body mass index and mean arterial blood pressure of users were dependent of the duration of use (P = 0.03 and P = 0.000 respectively). Conclusions: Overall, oral contraceptive pills use appears to cause a 2.9% increase in fasting blood glucose level, a 2.5% increase in mean arterial blood pressure and a 3.9% increase in body mass index among the users.

Measurement of lipids levels and lipase enzyme in women who take birth control pills in Samarra

“…The results additionally showed that there was a reduction in the degree of HDL-C in ladies taking the prophylactic pill contrasted with the control group [18]. Preventative pills can prompt weight acquire [25,26].…”