Combined contraceptives have been associated with an increased risk of thrombosis in obese women

According to a review paper published today in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) journal ESC Heart Failure, obese women who use oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progesterone are at 24 times higher risk of developing intravenous thromboembolism (VTE) than non-obese women who do not use these drugs

The study's author, Professor Giuseppe Rossano of the Pisaña Medical School in San Rafael, Rome, Italy, said: "Obesity and estrogen-containing contraceptives are both risk factors for venous thromboembolism, and this has been confirmed

This review article highlights the latest evidence on the independent effects of obesity and contraceptives and their synergistic effects on the risk of venous thromboembolism, and provides clinical recommendations

The World Health Organization estimates that the global prevalence of obesity nearly tripled from 1975 to 2016, with 15 percent of adult women obese

Combined oral contraceptives are associated with an increased likelihood of venous thromboembolism, and people who use oral contraceptives are 3 - 7 times

Overweight/obesity and the use of combined oral contraceptives increase the likelihood

Professor Rossano said: "Obese women who take birth control pills are prone to venous thromboembolism and they should take steps to limit other predisposing factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking cessation and increased levels of