Status of Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure in Low Dose Oral Contraceptive Pill Users

Low dose oral contraceptives are a major category of prescription drugs used by a large number of reproductive women. Since the introduction of the first combined oral contraceptives in the 1960s, great progress has been made to reduce side effects and improve tolerability without compromising efficacy. The most commonly used are combinations of drugs that contain both estrogen and progesterone. Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives by women of reproductive age can lead to increase body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. The aim of this study was to estimate the status of body mass index and blood pressure in low dose oral contraceptive pill users in Mymensingh locality. This cross sectional analytical type of study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh from July 2023 to June 2024. A total number of 140 reproductive women, age ranged from 18-52 years was included in this study. Among them 70 low dose oral contraceptive pill non users were taken as control group (Group I) and 70 low dose oral contraceptive pill users were taken as study group (Group II). The results were calculated and analyzed by using SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions), version 26.0. Data were expressed in Mean ±SD and statistical significance of difference among the groups was calculated by unpaired Student's 't' test. Correlation among body mass index, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were done by Pearson's correlation coefficient test. The mean±SD of body mass index (BMI) of control group and study group were 23.24±2.19 in kg/m2 and 26.60±1.94 in kg/m2 respectively. In study group, body mass index was increased in comparison with control group. The mean ±SD of systolic blood pressure of control group and study group were 122.93±10.88 mm of Hg and 141.66±5.47 mm of Hg respectively. In study group, systolic blood pressure was increased in comparison with control group. The mean ±SD of diastolic blood pressure of control group and study group were 81.21±5.92 mm of Hg and 91.87±6.13 mm of Hg respectively. In study group, diastolic blood pressure was increased in comparison with control group. In this study, body mass index and blood pressure was statistically highly significant (p<0.001) in study group in comparison to control group. Therefore, by this study we recommended that OCP users should follow up for early detection and prevention of complication leading to a healthy life.