Patient satisfaction and disease specific quality of life after uterine artery embolization

Abstract

Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate changes in fibroid specific symptom severity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after uterine artery embolization (UAE) and to consider the impact of these changes on satisfaction with the procedure.

Study design: A validated, fibroid specific, symptom, and HRQOL questionnaire was mailed to 80 women who had undergone UAE from 1998 through 2002. Pre- and postprocedure symptom severity and HRQOL scores were obtained. The primary outcome measure was change in fibroid symptoms and HRQOL after UAE. Secondary outcomes included objective measures of patient satisfaction, and the decrease in uterine volume after UAE.

Results: Questionnaires were completed by 64 women (80.0%) at a mean of 32.1 months from UAE (range: 57.5-6 months). After UAE, mean uterine volume decreased by 26.3% (95% CI 19.6-33.0), and 17 of 79 women (21.5%) underwent an additional procedure after a mean of 18.6 months. Symptom severity scores decreased by a mean of 35.2% (95% CI 29.3-41.1) and HRQOL scores increased by a mean of 35.7% (95% CI 28.9-42.4). Satisfaction with UAE was correlated with the change in symptom severity and HRQL scores (P <.0001 and P=.0004, respectively) and the decrease in uterine volume after UAE (P=.0196).

Conclusion: Women who undergo UAE have a significant decrease in symptom severity and increase in HRQOL, associated with high levels of satisfaction with the procedure, even when subsequent therapies are pursued.