Prevalence of Uterine Fibroids Among Women Presenting at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Abia State: A Five-Year Review

Abstract

Background: Uterine fibroids otherwise known as myoma or leiomyoma are benign, monoclonal tumours of the smooth muscle cells of the human uterus. They are the most common tumours in women of reproductive age and are asymptomatic in at least 50% of affected women with an estimated incidence rate of 20% - 45% among women above the age of 30 years.

The negative impact uterine fibroids symptoms can have on health-related quality of life along with the increased propensity for uterine fibroid among black women, and the burden of increased usage of health care systems for treatment of uterine fibroids makes this chronic and progressive health condition a growing public health concern.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of uterine fibroids among women presenting at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) between 1^st of January 2015 to 31^st of December 2019.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study carried out based on pre-existing data of patients who presented at ABSUTH over a 5-year period. Data was collected from the folders of patients who attended the gynaecological clinic and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.

Results: A total of 704 patients attended the gynaecological clinic within this period and 56 were diagnosed with uterine fibroids giving a prevalence of approximately 8%. Majority of the women who presented with uterine fibroids were within the age range of 31-40 years (60.7%). A total of 39 (71.4%) participants were nulliparous with majority of them achieving menarche at age of 14-17 years (82.1%). Majority of the participants in our study presented with abdominal mass/pain, 49 (87.5%) and menorrhagia, 36 (64.3%). Management of patients in this study was mainly through surgery which accounted for 47 (84.0%).

Conclusion: Uterine fibroid is a common gynaecological problem among women of child bearing age. In this study, common presenting complaints were abdominal mass/pain, menorrhagia, vaginal discharge, and history of infertility while nulliparity, and a late age at menarche were the commonest risk factors. The negative impact uterine fibroids symptoms can have on health-related quality of life, and the burden of increased usage of healthcare system for the treatment of uterine fibroids makes this health condition a growing public health concern.