Concurrent, prospective, analytical cohort study of endometriosis patients at Latifa Hospital - Dubai, UAE

摘要

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and features of endometriosis in a targeted group of population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A prospective study of 247 patients with endometriosis who attended the specialty clinic for endometriosis, Latifa Hospital from September 2012 to May 2015. All patients underwent surgical treatment. All patients filled out a preoperative questionnaire that included demographic data, clinical presentation, chief complaint, prior treatment, and personal, obstetric, and family history. Confirmation of endometriosis was carried out intraoperatively with/without conclusive histopathology of endometriosis. Epidemiological analysis of patients with confirmed endometriosis was done, as compared to published international data of the same category. Results: The prevalence of endometriosis in our study was 4.2%. UAE nationals made up 57.9% (143) of endometriosis sufferers and 42.1% (104) were expatriates. A total of 2.8% (7) were adolescents (14-20), 35.8% (88) were in the early reproductive age group (20-30), 47.3% (117) in the mid-age group (30-40), 13.3% (33) in late reproductive age group (40-50), and 0.8% (2) in postmenopausal age group. 56.6% (140) were P-0, 17% (42) P-1, and 26.4% (65) P-2 or more. Primary infertility was shown in 22.2% (55) of patients and 15.3% (38) had secondary infertility. There were 44.5% (110) of patients with a normal BMI index, 2.8% (7) underweight, 31.9% (79) overweight, and 20.6% (51) were obese. Regarding the type of endometriosis, patients were divided into three groups, those with ovarian endometriosis 49.8% (123), pelvic endometriosis 42.2% (104), and other, mainly adenomyosis 8% (20). The stages of endometriosis were 17.2% (42) with stage 1,44.5% (110), with stage II, 32.4% (80) with stage III, and 5.8% (14) with stage IV. In our study 19.4% had a family history of endometriosis while in 72.1% there was no family history. Conclusions: This was the first ever epidemiological study in the UAE among patients with a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis. There is need for further epidemiological surveys to obtain a more realistic view of the prevalence and severity of the disease in UAE patients with endometriosis who, however, do seem to share the same incidence rate and features as reported worldwide.