Uterine fibroid embolization: measurement of health-related quality of life before and after therapy

Abstract

Objective: To determine the change in health-related quality of life associated with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).

Materials and methods: A health-related quality-of-life questionnaire was administered before and after therapy. The questionnaire contained validated scales from the Medical Outcomes Study, with additional domains and symptom items specific to fibroids. Patients treated with UFE for symptomatic uterine leiomyomata completed a health-related quality of life questionnaire before therapy. A follow-up quality of life questionnaire and an additional brief questionnaire to assess symptom improvement were completed 3 and 6 months postprocedure. Confirmatory reliability and validity testing was also conducted. Mean scores for each scale on the quality of life questionnaire were calculated and change scores were computed.

Results: Fifty women were enrolled in the study and completed the baseline assessment. Health-related quality of life scores improved in all instances at follow-up. Mean change scores were statistically significant for all domains between baseline and month 3 (P < .01) and between baseline and month 6 (P < .05) except backache (P = .12).

Conclusion: Patients undergoing UFE report significant improvements in health-related quality of life and fibroid-specific symptoms. These findings suggest that the measurement of health-related quality of life may be an effective means of comparing the outcome of UFE with other fibroid therapies.