Publication date: Oct 07, 2024

The association between current use of oral contraceptives (OCs) among women younger than 50 years (n = 306 541), and hormone therapy (HT) among women aged 50 years or older (n = 323 203), and coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection and hospitalization was evaluated in this population-based cohort. Current OC/HT use was recorded monthly using prescription dispensing data. COVID-19 infections were identified from March 2020 through February 2021. COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations were identified through diagnosis codes and laboratory tests. We used weighted generalized estimating equations models to estimate multivariable adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for COVID-19 infection associated with time-varying OC/HT use. Among women with COVID-19, logistic regression models were used to evaluate OC/HT use and COVID-19 hospitalization. Over 12 months, 11 727 (3. 8%) women younger than 50 years and 8661 (2. 7%) women aged 50 years or older experienced COVID-19 infections. There was no evidence of an association between OC use and infection (aOR = 1. 05; 95% CI, 0. 97-1. 12). There was a modest association between HT use and infection (aOR = 1. 19; 95% CI, 1. 03-1. 38). Women using OCs had a 39% lower risk of hospitalization (aOR = 0. 61; 95% CI, 0. 38-1. 00), but there was no association of HT use with hospitalization (aOR = 0. 89; 95% CI, 0. 51-1. 53). These findings do not suggest a meaningfully greater risk of COVID-19 infection associated with OC or HT use. OC use may be associated with lower COVID-19 hospitalization risk.

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