title: Age-Related Differences in Quality of Life in Swedish Women with Endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the impact of endometriosis on quality of life (QoL) in different age groups of Swedish women with endometriosis. Recruitment occurred through the Endometriosis Association (Sweden) (n = 400) and five gynecology departments of five Swedish hospitals (n = 400). All voluntary female members of the patient organization and patients attending specialist clinics due to endometriosis (n = 800) were invited by sending them a questionnaire. An age- and gender-matched sample of the general Swedish population was used as a control group when analyzing SF-36 data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire (including SF-36) was distributed to 800 women. The questionnaire was evaluated by using descriptive statistics, and SF-36 was evaluated according to standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 449 (56%) self-administered questionnaires returned, 431 (96%) contained evaluable answers. Women with endometriosis have significantly lower SF-36 scores than the general female Swedish population, and the score depends on the women's age. Younger women experience more symptoms and have a lower QoL score compared with women in the older age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with endometriosis have significantly lower QoL than the general female Swedish population and it depends on the women's age, where younger women express more symptoms and have a lower QoL compared with women in the older age group. Our results highlight that more healthcare resources should be focused on younger women with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Bayer Healthcare , Bayer AB, Solna, Sweden .
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lövkvist
authors.affiliation: 1 Bayer Healthcare , Bayer AB, Solna, Sweden .
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boström
authors.affiliation: 1 Bayer Healthcare , Bayer AB, Solna, Sweden .
authors.forename: Måns
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edlund
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University , Uppsala, Sweden .
authors.forename: Matts
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olovsson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult