Prevalence-corrected hysterectomy rates by age and indication in Germany 2005-2006

Few studies have examined the age-specific use of hysterectomy by indication. The aim of this study was to provide detailed nationwide age-specific prevalence-corrected hysterectomy rates for several indications in Germany, representing a population of 42 million women.

Nationwide population-based diagnosis related group data of the years 2005 and 2006 were used to calculate the prevalence-corrected hysterectomy rates by age and indication group.

Prevalence-corrected age-standardized hysterectomy rates (any indication) was 362.9 (295.0 for benign diseases of the genital tract and 44.0 for primary malignant tumors of the genital tract) per 100,000 person-year. Corrected hysterectomy rates become increasingly greater than the uncorrected hysterectomy rates, such that they are about 68 % greater for women in the age groups 75-79, 80-84, and 85-89 years. Age-specific hysterectomy rates showed quite different patterns depending on the indication of hysterectomy. For example, hysterectomy rates closely follow the cancer incidence rates up to age 44 for cervical cancer and age 69 for uterine cancer, diverging noticeably in ages thereafter.

The prevalence-corrected hysterectomy rates presented in this study provide a more accurate indication of the use of hysterectomy, which has implications in terms of costs and resource allocation. Understanding the role of hysterectomy in treating selected diseases across the age span is also important for patients and doctors as they consult together about an appropriate course of treatment.