Fibroids and hypertension - A cross-sectional study of women undergoing hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether uterine fibroids are associated with hypert ension. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 543 consecutive women, 41-89 years of age, who und erwent hysterectomy in 1984 and 1994 for benign indications at Helsinki Uni versity Central Hospital were included in the study. Preoperative informati on on indications for the procedure, current use of hormone replacement the rapy (HRT) or other medication, parity, body mass index and blood pressure (BP) was obtained from medical records. The presence of fibroids was confir med from the pathology report. Women were classified as hypertensive if the y currently used antihypertensive medication, had 17 history of hypertensio n without current medication or had a preoperatively measured RP > 140/90 m m Hg. RESULTS: Women with fibroids were significantly younger and more likely to use HRT than the other women. Uterine fibroids were more frequent among hyp ertensive (42%) than normotensive (37%) women. In logistic regression analy sis, fibroids were statistically significantly associated with hypertension (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7). The association between myomas and hypertension was strongest (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-10.9) among women with hysterectomies for benign adnexal tumors. CONCLUSION: Uterine fibroids and/or adnexal tumors may share pathogenic fea tures with the development of hypertension. (J Reprod Med 2001;46:359-364).