Letter

Study confirms tendency towards lower risk of myocardial infarction with second generation oral contraceptives in UK

BMJ 1999; 319 doi: 10.1136/bmj.319.7218.1199 (Published 30 October 1999)
Cite this as: BMJ 1999;319:1199.1

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  1. Paul O'Brien, senior clinical medical officer in clinical effectiveness (PaulOBrien@care.prestel.co.uk)a
  1. Services for Women, Parkside Health NHS Trust, St Charles Hospital, London W10 6DZ
  1. a Dr O'Brien has provided advice to the legal team representing women who developed a venous thrombosis while taking third generation oral contraceptives. He has been paid for this work

    EDITOR—Lidegaard is mistaken in his commentary on the MICA study of oral contraceptives and myocardial infarction.1 Third generation oral contraceptives were, in fact, preferentially prescribed to women at lower risk of myocardial infarction. The odds ratios of third versus second generation pills increased rather than decreased when more potential confounders were entered into the logistic model.1 Similar preferential prescribing in favour of third generation contraceptives was found in the only empirical study of prescribing in the United Kingdom.2

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