Fibroids and hypertension. A cross-sectional study of women undergoing hysterectomy

To determine whether uterine fibroids are associated with hypertension.

A total of 543 consecutive women, 41-89 years of age, who underwent hysterectomy in 1984 and 1994 for benign indications at Helsinki University Central Hospital were included in the study. Preoperative information on indications for the procedure, current use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other medication, parity, body mass index and blood pressure (BP) was obtained from medical records. The presence of fibroids was confirmed from the pathology report. Women were classified as hypertensive if they currently used antihypertensive medication, had a history of hypertension without current medication or had a preoperatively measured BP > 140/90 mm Hg.

Women with fibroids were significantly younger and more likely to use HRT than the other women. Uterine fibroids were more frequent among hypertensive (42%) than normotensive (37%) women. In logistic regression analysis, fibroids were statistically significantly associated with hypertension (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7). The association between myomas and hypertension was strongest (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-10.9) among women with hysterectomies for benign adnexal tumors.

Uterine fibroids and/or adnexal tumors may share pathogenic features with the development of hypertension.