Impact of periodic health examination on surgical treatment for uterine fibroids in Beijing: a case-control study

Hai-Yun Wu,Ling-Ling Yang,Shan Zhou

doi:10.1186/1472-6963-10-329

Abstract

BackgroundDuring the past 2 decades, there has been a rapid proliferation of "health examination center (HEC)" across China. The effects of their services on public's health have not been systemically investigated. This study aimed to assess the impact of periodic health examination (PHE) at HEC on surgical treatment for uterine fibroids in Beijing residents.MethodsWe identified 224 patients with a primary diagnosis of uterine fibroids who had surgical treatment at four Level-1 general hospitals in Beijing, from June 1, 2009 to October 20, 2009. Controls were women who did not have surgery for uterine fibroids, matched (1:1 ratio) for age (within 2 years). A standard questionnaire was used to inquire about whether participants had PHE at HEC during the previous 2 years.ResultsPHE at HEC within 2 years were associated with surgical treatment for uterine fibroids. Odds ratios was 4.05 (95% CI, 2.61-6.29 P < 0.001), after adjustment for marital status, whether have children, annual family income, health insurance, education level and self-rated uterine fibroids-related symptom severity.ConclusionsOur study showed PHE currently provided at HEC in China were associated with significantly increased use of surgical treatment for uterine fibroids in women. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of PHE on clinical as well as on broad societal outcomes in Chinese in contemporary medical settings.

Highlights

During the past 2 decades, there has been a rapid proliferation of “health examination center (HEC)” across China
Questionnaire survey We used a standardized questionnaire to collect data from all cases and controls, including age, marital status, whether they had at least one child, employment status, family income, health insurance, education, whether they had been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and, if so, the first year they were told the diagnosis, self-rated uterine fibroids related symptom severity, and whether they had periodic health examination (PHE) during the previous 2 years (Additional file 1)
In conclusion, our study showed that the PHE currently performed at HEC in China, were associated with significantly increased use of surgical treatment for uterine fibroids in women, providing further evidence that nonclinical factors may play important roles in women’s decision to undergo hysterectomy for benign conditions, in a fee-for-service healthcare system

Summary

Introduction

During the past 2 decades, there has been a rapid proliferation of “health examination center (HEC)” across China. The effects of their services on public’s health have not been systemically investigated. Since the 1980 s, during the 1990 s, there has been a rapid proliferation of health examination centers (HEC) across China, especially in large cities. The majority of these centers, which presently total nearly 5000, are set up by public hospitals, while a growing number are created at private institutions [3].

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