Uterine fibroids linked to higher risk of heart disease: study

Women diagnosed with uterine fibroids have an 81% higher long-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those without the condition,

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in or around the uterus, commonly linked to pelvic pain and heavy or irregular bleeding.

The new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests their impact may extend beyond reproductive health, potentially acting as an early marker of future heart disease.

The study analysed health data from nearly 450,000 women with fibroids and more than 2.25 million women without them, all aged 18 to 50 and free of cardiovascular disease at the start. Each woman with fibroids was matched with five women of the same age without the condition. Participants were followed for nearly 10 years.

During the study period, women with fibroids experienced about 6.5 cardiovascular events per 1,000 person-years, compared to 3 events among those without fibroids. After 10 years, 5.4% of women with fibroids had developed cardiovascular disease, versus 3% in the comparison group. The elevated risk remained even after adjusting for factors such as BMI, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension.

The risk was especially high among women under 40, whose chances of developing heart disease were more than three times higher. Researchers say the findings highlight the need for early heart-health discussions following a fibroid diagnosis.