BLACK females bear a disproportionate health burden from uterine fibroids, experiencing fibroid onset 10 years earlier, on average, than White females. However, fibroid risk factors in Black females remain understudied. New research has now shed light on the relationship between maternal history of fibroids and fibroid development in Black females.
The prospective community cohort study included 1,610 self-identified Black and/or African American females (mean age: 29.2 years) from Detroit, Michigan, with no prior clinical diagnosis of fibroids at enrolment. Conducted from 2010–2018, the study used four standardised ultrasonographic examinations during 5 years to detect fibroids ≥0.5 cm in diameter, and measure fibroid growth. Maternal fibroid history data were gathered directly from participants’ mothers when possible (88% of cases). The authors created two exposure variables: maternal history of fibroids (diagnosed versus not diagnosed), and age at maternal fibroid diagnosis (20-29, 30-39, or ≥40 years versus not diagnosed).
Results showed that participants with a maternal history of uterine fibroids had a higher risk of developing fibroids compared to those without maternal history (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.96–1.52). The risk was even higher among females whose mothers were diagnosed with fibroids at age 20–29 years (aHR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.11–2.21) compared with diagnosis at age 30–39 years (aHR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.71–1.49), and ≥40 years (aHR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.81–1.52). Furthermore, fibroid growth rates were higher in participants with fibroid history, with an 8.0% increase in fibroid growth compared to females with no maternal history.
In conclusion, maternal history of fibroids is a significant risk factor for fibroid development in Black females, particularly when the mother was diagnosed at a younger age. “Fibroids are an understudied condition, and there is still much to be elucidated concerning genetic and environmental factors and their interactions that influence development,” concluded study author Christine Langton, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, North Carolina, USA. “Future genetic research may benefit from incorporation of data on the mother’s history of fibroids. Pregnancy cohorts that collect detailed data on mothers and offspring may also be an ideal source for future research.”
