Results 1747 deaths occurred in never users of oral
contraception and 2864 in ever users. Compared with
never users, ever users of oral contraception had a
significantly lower rate of death from any cause (adjusted
relative risk 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.82 to 0.93).
They also had significantly lower rates of death from all
cancers; large bowel/rectum, uterine body, and ovarian
cancer; main gynaecological cancers combined; all
circulatory disease; ischaemic heart disease; and all
other diseases. They had higher rates of violent deaths.
No association between overall mortality and duration of
oral contraceptive use was observed, although some
disease specific relations were apparent. An increased
relative risk of death from any cause between ever users
and never users was observed in women aged under
45 years who had stopped using oral contraceptives
5-9 years previously but not in those with more distant
use. The estimated absolute reduction in all cause
mortality among ever users of oral contraception was 52
per 100 000 woman years