The Ontario Uterine Fibroid Embolization Trial. Part 1. Baseline patient characteristics, fibroid burden, and impact on life

Pron, Gaylene; Cohen, Marsha; Soucie, Jennifer; Garvin, Greg; Vanderburgh, Leslie; Bell, Stuart; Ontario Uterine Fibroid Embolization Collaborative Group,

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Volume 79, Issue 1 , Pages 112-119, January 2003

The Ontario Uterine Fibroid Embolization Trial. Part 1. Baseline patient characteristics, fibroid burden, and impact on life☆

Gaylene Pron, Ph.D.
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Center for Research in Women’s Health, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Reprint requests: Gaylene Pron, Ph.D., Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 100 College St., Room 513, Banting Building, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L5, Canada (FAX: 416-971-2240).
Marsha Cohen, M.D.
- Center for Research in Women’s Health, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jennifer Soucie, M.Sc.
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Greg Garvin, M.D.
- Department of Radiology, St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, Ontario, Canada
Leslie Vanderburgh, M.D.
- Department of Radiology, William Osler Health Center, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Stuart Bell, M.D.
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ontario Uterine Fibroid Embolization Collaborative Group

Received 19 April 2002; received in revised form 16 September 2002; accepted 16 September 2002.

Abstract

Objective

To determine baseline characteristics of women undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic fibroids.

Design

Multicenter, prospective, single-arm clinical treatment trial.

Setting

Eight Ontario university and community hospitals.

Patient(s)

Five hundred fifty-five women undergoing UAE for fibroids.

Intervention(s)

Baseline questionnaires completed before UAE.

Main outcome measure(s)

Questionnaires were analyzed for demographic, medical, and gynecologic histories. Fibroid symptoms, impact of symptoms, previous consultations, and treatments were also analyzed.

Result(s)

The Ontario cohort (66% white, 23% black, 11% other races) had an average age of 43. Thirty-one percent were under age 40. Most women were university educated (68%) and working outside the home (85%). Women reported heavy menstrual bleeding (80%), urinary urgency/frequency (73%), pain during intercourse (41%), and work absences (40%). They experienced fibroid-related symptoms for an average of 5 years and consulted with on average of three gynecologists before UAE. High fibroid life-impact scores were reported by 58%. Black women were significantly younger (40.7 vs. 44.0 years), more likely to experience symptoms longer (7 vs. 5 years), and more likely to undergo myomectomy before UAE (24% vs. 9%) than white women.

Conclusion(s)

Our study illustrates that large numbers of women with highly symptomatic fibroid disease are averse to surgery despite their burden of suffering and are actively seeking alternatives to hysterectomy.

Keywords: Uterine artery embolization, leiomyoma, uterine fibroids, burden of disease, menorrhagia, clinical study