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. 2018 Apr;20(4):718-726.
doi: 10.1111/jch.13253. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

The risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in women with uterine fibroids

Yentl C Haan  1 , Frederieke S Diemer  1   2 , Lisa Van Der Woude  1 , Gert A Van Montfrans  1   3 , Glenn P Oehlers  2 , Lizzy M Brewster  3   4
Affiliations

The risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in women with uterine fibroids

Yentl C Haan et al. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Women with fibroids have a notably high hypertension risk. However, adjusted data regarding other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are scarce. In this cross-sectional study, CVD risk factors, hemodynamic parameters, and asymptomatic organ damage were analyzed between women with uterine fibroids and controls in a multi-ethnic population. In total, 104 women with self-reported fibroids and 624 controls were included. Women with fibroids had significantly higher odds to have hypertension (OR 3.4; 95% CI 2.2-5.2), diabetes (1.7; 1.0-2.9), and hypercholesterolemia (1.8; 1.1-3.2). After adjustment for confounders, only the odds ratio for hypertension was significant (1.8; 1.1-3.1). Asymptomatic organ damage occurred significantly more often in women with fibroids (66.7%; 95% CI 55.8%-77.6% vs 42.9%; 38.0-47.8 in controls), especially in the younger age group (respectively 48.5%; 31.1%-65.9% vs 22.1%; 17.0-27.2). In this study, women with fibroids had a remarkably high hypertension risk compared to controls, with more asymptomatic organ damage, in particular young women.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; hypertension; risk factors; uterine fibroids; women's health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors by fibroid status and age group. Data were based on respectively 44 and 59 women with uterine fibroids and 439 and 185 controls. *P < .05 for difference between women with fibroids and controls
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors by fibroids status and ancestry. We used an age restriction of 35‐70 years in order to avoid significant age differences between groups. Mean age was not significantly different between women with fibroids and controls in both ancestry groups. For Asian participants, data were based on 36 women with fibroids and 195 controls. For African participants, data were based on 51 women with fibroids and 145 controls. *P < .05 for difference between women with fibroids and controls
Figure 4
Figure 4
Prevalence of asymptomatic organ damage by fibroids status and age group. Asymptomatic organ damage included the presence of at least one of the following: pulse pressure ≥60 mm Hg, pulse wave velocity >10 m/s, ankle‐brachial index <0.9, electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, eGFR 30‐60 mL/min/1.73 m2, or proteinuria. Data were based on respectively 33 and 42 women with uterine fibroids and 262 and 148 controls. *P < .05 for difference between women with fibroids and controls
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