Abstract

PIP: 113 hospitalized women aged 15-44 who developed venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism after surgery, trauma, infection or immobilization were compared to 184 controls matched by race, age, marital status, date of discharge, and degree of predisposition to thromboembolism. The groups were similar in religion, education, family income and number of children, but the married cases weighed an average of 143 lb, compared to 128 for married controls. 21 cases (35%), and 16 controls (16%), had taken oral contraceptives in the month prior to hospitalization. When computed by matched pairs, the relative risk for pill users was 6.5. When computed by groups, the relative risk was 2.7. These results agreed with a previous British study of high-risk cases. The authors concur with the suggestion that the pill be discontinued 1 month prior to surgery.