Drospirenone- and levonorgestrel-containing oral contraceptives and the risk of gallbladder disease.

BACKGROUND: Studies have found an association between the use of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives (OCs) and the risk of gallbladder disease. This study evaluated this relation as well as the role of progestogen on the risk of gallbladder disease among users of drospirenone-containing OCs compared to users of levonorgestrel-containing OCs.

STUDY DESIGN: The UK General Practice Research DATABASE. We conducted a nested case-control analysis among women aged 14 to 60 years during 2001 through 2008 who had ever received drospirenone- or levonorgestrel-containing OCs. Cases were women with a first diagnosis of gallbladder disease during the study period. Women who received a study OC within 6 months of the index date were exposed. All other women were nonexposed. We matched two controls to each case on year of birth, index date, amount of recorded history and general practice attended.

RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio for gallbladder disease comparing drospirenone and levonorgestrel OCs to nonexposure were 0.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.1] and 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence in these data that drospirenone- or levonorgestrel-containing OC use confers an increased risk of gallbladder disease compared to women not currently exposed to an OC. Nor is use of drospirenone OCs associated with a higher risk of gallbladder disease than use of levonorgestrel-containing OCs.