A GROUNDBREAKING study from the Nurses’ Health Study II, encompassing over 110,000 women, reveals alarming connections between endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and premature mortality. Conducted over 30 years, the research highlights the heightened risk of premature death, before the age of 70, among women with these gynaecological conditions.
The study found that women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis faced a 31% increased risk of premature mortality compared to those without. The risk was particularly pronounced for deaths related to non-malignant respiratory diseases, neurological conditions, and gynaecological cancers. Notably, endometriosis was linked to a nearly threefold increased risk of death from malignant neoplasms of gynaecological organs.
Uterine fibroids, while not associated with all-cause premature mortality, were tied to a more than twofold increased risk of death from gynaecological cancers. Alarmingly, women diagnosed with both conditions experienced the highest risks, including for cardiovascular and respiratory disease-related mortality.
These findings emphasise the importance of long-term monitoring for women diagnosed with endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Primary care providers are urged to take these conditions into account when assessing overall health, even beyond a patient’s reproductive years. The study underscores the need for heightened awareness and proactive management strategies to mitigate these risks.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
YX Wang et al. Endometriosis and uterine fibroids and risk of premature mortality: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2024;387:e078797.
