The Health Disparities of Uterine Fibroids for African American Women: A Public Health Issue

摘要

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign pelvic tumors in women and are the major indication for hysterectomy. Fibroids are more common and more severe among African American women. Although this disease disproportionately affects the African American population, we understand little about what causes this disparity. Fibroids should be considered a public health issue, given the magnitude of the problem and the costs of health care for this disease. In this review, we examine the burden of disease from fibroids in the African American population and review the natural history, diagnosis, and treatment of uterine fibroids, with emphasis on how these can differ, depending on race. We also focus on the socioeconomic burden caused by the disease and describe the anticipated influence of new health care reforms and funding mechanisms for fibroid research.