title: The burden of uterine fibroids for African-American women: results of a national survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uterine fibroids have a disproportionate impact on African-American women. There are, however, no data to compare racial differences in symptoms, quality of life, effect on employment, and information-seeking behavior for this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive between December 1, 2011 and January 16, 2012. Participants were U.S. women aged 29-59 with symptomatic uterine fibroids. African-American women were oversampled to allow statistical comparison of this high-risk group. Bivariate comparison of continuous and categorical measures was based on the t-test and the Chi-squared test, respectively. Multivariable adjustment of risk ratios was based on log binomial regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was completed by 268 African-American and 573 white women. There were no differences between groups in education, employment status, or overall health status. African-American women were significantly more likely to have severe or very severe symptoms, including heavy or prolonged menses (RR=1.51, 95% CI 1.05-2.18) and anemia (RR=2.73, 95% CI 1.47-5.09). They also more often reported that fibroids interfered with physical activities (RR=1.67, 95% CI 1.20-2.32) and relationships (RR=2.27, 95% CI 1.23-4.22) and were more likely to miss days from work (RR=1.77, 95% CI 1.20-2.61). African-American women were more likely to consult friends and family (36 vs. 22%, P=0.004) and health brochures (32 vs. 18%, P<0.001) for health information. Concerns for future fertility (RR=2.65, 95% CI 1.93-3.63) and pregnancy (RR=2.89, 95% CI 2.11-3.97) following fibroid treatments were key concerns for black women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  African-American women have more severe symptoms, unique concerns, and different information-seeking behavior for fibroids.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School , Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Wanda K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Bijan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Borah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
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