The Burden of Uterine Fibroids for African-American Women: Results of a National Survey
Publication: Journal of Women's Health
Volume 22, Issue Number 10
Abstract
Background: Uterine fibroids have a disproportionate impact on African-American women. There are, however, no data to compare racial differences in symptoms, quality of life, effect on employment, and information-seeking behavior for this disease.
Methods: An online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive between December 1, 2011 and January 16, 2012. Participants were U.S. women aged 29–59 with symptomatic uterine fibroids. African-American women were oversampled to allow statistical comparison of this high-risk group. Bivariate comparison of continuous and categorical measures was based on the t-test and the Chi-squared test, respectively. Multivariable adjustment of risk ratios was based on log binomial regression.
Results: The survey was completed by 268 African-American and 573 white women. There were no differences between groups in education, employment status, or overall health status. African-American women were significantly more likely to have severe or very severe symptoms, including heavy or prolonged menses (RR=1.51, 95% CI 1.05–2.18) and anemia (RR=2.73, 95% CI 1.47–5.09). They also more often reported that fibroids interfered with physical activities (RR=1.67, 95% CI 1.20–2.32) and relationships (RR=2.27, 95% CI 1.23–4.22) and were more likely to miss days from work (RR=1.77, 95% CI 1.20–2.61). African-American women were more likely to consult friends and family (36 vs. 22%, P=0.004) and health brochures (32 vs. 18%, P<0.001) for health information. Concerns for future fertility (RR=2.65, 95% CI 1.93–3.63) and pregnancy (RR=2.89, 95% CI 2.11–3.97) following fibroid treatments were key concerns for black women.
Conclusions: African-American women have more severe symptoms, unique concerns, and different information-seeking behavior for fibroids.
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Copyright 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
History
Published in print: October 2013
Published online: 30 September 2013
Published ahead of print: 14 September 2013
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Author Disclosure Statement
EAS: clinical trial investigator: InSightec and NIH (HD063312 and HD060503); consultant: Abbott, Bayer and Gynesonics; scientific advisory board: Bayer Healthcare Foundation; royalties UpToDate, Johns Hopkins University Press, Massachusetts Medical Society
LB: consultant: Merit Medical, Ferring Pharmaceutical, Endoceutics; speaker's bureau: Ferring Pharmaceutical, Bayer Healthcare; royalties Elsevier; editorial advisory board Medscape; paid writer for WebMD.
WKN and BB have no disclosures.
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