title: Comparison of characteristics of fibroids in African American and white women undergoing premenopausal hysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare pathologic characteristics and epidemiologic risk factors for uterine fibroids in African American and white women undergoing hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of women undergoing premenopausal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two university-associated hospitals in North Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  African American (n = 225) and white women (n = 135) with fibroid diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from an in-person interview and abstracted from operative and pathologic reports. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression models were used to identify characteristics associated with higher uterine weight, greater number of fibroids, and size of the largest fibroid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  African American women had substantially more fibroids (9.9 vs. 4.5) with a concomitant higher mean uterine weight (477 vs. 267 g). Although African American women had a higher prevalence of established risk factors for fibroids, such as high body mass index (BMI) and hypertension, these factors were not associated with larger uteri or more numerous fibroids. In multiple linear regression models, the only factors statistically significantly associated with higher uterine weight, larger fibroids, and more numerous fibroids were race and nulligravidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presentation of fibroids as measured by uterine size or number of fibroids is more severe in African American women compared with white women. The differences in presentation cannot be explained by racial differences in the prevalence of known risk factors. Additional research is needed on environmental and genetic factors that may increase the risk for fibroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community of Family Medicine, Cancer Prevention, Detection and Control Research Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. patricia.moorman@duke.edu
authors.forename: Patricia G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Moorman
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leppert
authors.forename: Evan R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D017697:Premenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*