Fibroid Prevalence—Still So Much to Learn

Abstract

The report from Huang et al 1 elsewhere in JAMA Network Open used a community-based cohort with systematic ultrasonographic screening to document the high fibroid prevalence in reproductiveaged participants (20%), the 2-to 3-fold higher prevalence of fibroids in Black or Asian-Chinese individuals compared with White or Hispanic individuals, and the early age of fibroid onset in both Black and Asian-Chinese participants. In the context of fibroid research, estimates of fibroid prevalence in a diverse community sample are limited. Fibroid-focused epidemiologic research is rare, yet the scarcity of data cannot be explained by unique difficulties of studying this condition given that fibroids are not hard to diagnose. Most studies rely on suboptimal study designs, including secondary analysis of studies designed for other outcomes. The study by Huang et al 1 used ultrasonographic imaging for diagnosis, but the data were collected for a different hypothesis, which

Contemporary issues in women's health

“…For example, race/ethnicity can play an important role, as it is known that black females have a 2-3 times higher risk of leiomyoma; it is assumed that factors other than solely race contribute to this disparity. [4][5][6] It is also known that alcohol intake, significant consumption of red meat, obesity, and chronic stress are associated with increased risk of leiomyoma. 7,8 Leiomyomas can have adverse effects on the quality of life depending on their clinical signs and symptoms.…”