Prevalence of self-reported medical diagnosis of uterine leiomyomas in a Brazilian population: demographic and socioeconomic patterns in the Pro-Saúde Study.

Introduction: Uterine leiomyomas (UL) are considered the most common tumors of the female reproductive system. However, there are few epidemiological studies about this condition in Brazil.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported history of UL according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and to markers of access to health care.

Methods: We analyzed data from 1,733 university employees who participated at the baseline waves of the Pro-Saude Study (1999-2001), in relation to three outcomes: (1) self-reported medical diagnosis of UL, (2) UL with symptoms prior to diagnosis, and (3) cases with hysterectomy due to UL. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated in relation to strata of variables related to demographic (age, color/race) and socioeconomic characteristics (education, income) and of markers of access to health care (Pap smear, breast clinical exam and private health insurance status).

Results: The prevalence of medically-diagnosed UL was 23.3% (95% CI - 21.3, 25.2), the UL with symptoms prior to diagnosis of 13.3% (95% CI - 11.7, 15.0) and hysterectomy due to UL, 8.4% (95% CI - 7.5, 10.3). Among participants younger than 45 years old, higher prevalence was observed among women with worse socioeconomic conditions and of black color/race. Among those with 45 years or more, there was higher prevalence among women with better access to health care.

Conclusion: In this study population of Brazilian women, UL is a relevant health problem, and its prevalence and associated socio-demographic gradients are similar to those observed in other countries.