Influence of Ethnicity on Clinical Presentation and Quality of Life in Women With Uterine Fibroids: Results From a Prospective Observational Registry.

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate ethnic variations in the clinical presentation of women with uterine fibroids. A total of 996 premenopausal women with symptomatic uterine fibroids were enrolled in a prospective, non-interventional, observational registry at 19 clinical sites across Canada (CAPTURE Registry). Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Symptom Severity questionnaires and the Aberdeen Menorrhagia Severity Scale (Ruta score). Linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for patient and fibroid characteristics, were used to examine differences among ethnicities for continuous and binary outcomes of interest. Black women were 4.9 years younger (P<0.001), were more likely to be nulligravid (P=0.046), had a 41% longer duration of symptoms before enrolment (P=0.01), had a 49% larger fibroid volume (P=0.01), and were more likely to be anemic (P<0.001) compared with White women. Black women reported lower health-related quality of life scores (-5.19 points; 95% CI -9.90 to -0.48, P=0.03) compared with White women. East Asian women were 2.0 years younger (P=0.01), were more likely to be nulligravid (P<0.001), had a 53% longer duration of symptoms (P=0.01), had 67% larger fibroid volume (P=0.01), and were more likely to be anemic (P=0.003) compared with White women. East Asian women had lower symptom severity scores (-5.95 points; 95% CI -11.16 to -0.75, P=0.02). Non-White women preferred uterine-preserving treatment options (P<0.001). Black and East Asian women have an increased burden of disease compared with White women and prefer uterine preservation. There is a discrepancy between disease burden and patient-reported outcomes that may reflect ethnocultural differences in disease experience.