IJCS | Volume 33, Nº3, May / June 2020

213 hypothesis is based on the strong positive correlation found between renin and CRP values. We also observed that the CRP values of women using COC were higher than in the non-COC group, corroborating two previous studies produced by our group, which indicates that women using COC have higher subclinical inflammation than women who do not use COC. 11,18 We can also raise the possibility that high plasma renin levels may re-feed their higher production by stimulating the central nervous system. Increased plasma renin levels by increasing the production of angiotensin II increase sympathetic discharge, since angiotensin II directly stimulates sympathetic activity. Increase in sympathetic activity, in turn, stimulates the beta-adrenergic cells, the glomerular cells of the kidneys, to produce renin. 19 In summary, increased plasma renin levels appear to be associated with increased subclinical inflammatory activity, which points to the idea that young womenwith no other risk factors, using COC, are more susceptible to the development of cardiovascular diseases in the medium and long term. However, in order to assert that COC women are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, longitudinal studies are necessary to assess cardiovascular dysfunction in this population as primary outcomes. However, it is desirable to evaluate the risks and benefits of prescribing this contraceptive method. Carrying out rigorous clinical follow-up and seeking to evidence potential cardiovascular risk markers, as well as early identifying subclinical inflammation, will be important to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases in this population in the medium and long term. Conclusion Women takingCOChave higher serumrenin levels and CRP than women who do not use this drug. This points to the possibility that this population is at higher risk of developing systemic arterial hypertension in the long term, which, associated with subclinical inflammation, may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Limitations The lack of a detailed nutritional analysis with information on the quantity, type and frequency of carbohydrate consumption, for example, could change some of the evidence, as well as the unchecked sociodemographic aspects. Author contributions Conception and design of the research: Oliveira SS, Petto J, Santos ACN. Acquisition of data: Sacramento MS, SantosACN. Analysis and interpretation of the data: Oliveira SS, Petto J. Statistical analysis: Oliveira SS, Petto J. Análise estatística: Oliveira Writing of the manuscript: Oliveira SS, Petto J, Sacramento MS. Critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content: Petto J, Ladeia AMT. Potential Conflict of Interest No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. Sources of Funding There were no external funding sources for this study. Study Association This article is part of the thesis of master submitted by Sidney de Souza Oliveira, from Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública. Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculdade Nobre de Feira de Santana under the protocol number 79549517.3.0000.5654. All the procedures in this study were in accordance with the 1975 Helsinki Declaration, updated in 2013. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study. 1. Malachias MVB, Souza WKSB, Plavnik FL, Rodrigues CIS, BrandãoAA, Neves MFT, et al. VII Diretriz Brasileira de Hipertensão Arterial. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2016;107(3 supl.3);1-83. 2. Chasan-Taber L, Willett WC, Manson JE, Spiegelman D, Hunter DJ, CurhanG, et al. Prospective study of oral contraceptives and hypertension among women in the United States. Circulation. 1996;94(3):483-9. References Oliveira et al. Plasma renin and use of oral contraceptives Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; 33(3):208-214 Original Article