A Case-control Study Of Obesity And Risk Of Uterine Leiomyomata

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship of anthropometric characteristics (height, weight,body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and waist tohip ratio (WHR)) with uterine leiomyomata (UL) in middle-aged and elderly women.MethodsA hospital-based case control study was conducted between April2011andoctober2012. Cases (n=382) were surgically and histologically confirmed with ULwith35~67years old, and controls (n=382) were women admitted to same hospitalfor different diseases not related with gynecologic diseases. Using a structuredinterviewer-administrated questionnaire that included information onsociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, detailed medical history,simultaneously, all subjects were interviewed, and height, weight, WC, and hipcircumference of the subjects were measured, then BMI and WHR were calculated.The odds ratios (OR) and95%confidence intervals (CI) of UL were estimated withunivariate multiple logistic regression models.Results1.The results showed that there were remarkable differeces in age at first birth,age at last birth, hypertension, diabetes, and physical exercise between patients inthe patient group and in the control group(P <0.05). Cases had higher mean weight,BMI, WC, and WHR than control group (P <0.05). Statistically significantdifferences was found in obesity, generalized obesity, abdominal obesity, and combined obesity between patient and control group ((P <0.05).2. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased weight hadelevated risks of UL (OR=1.647,95%CI:1.111~2.442, P=0.013; OR=1.798,95%CI:1.200~2.695, P=0.004; OR=1.739,95%CI:1.138~2.658, P=0.011).Compared to BMI with normal, the ORs for cases in overweight and obesity were1.680and1.942(95%CI:1.215~2.322, P=0.002;95%CI:1.237~3.050, P=0.004).Moreover, increased UL risk with increasing WC (OR=1.456,95%CI:1.072~1.928,P=0.016). And WHR was positively associated with UL (OR=1.546,95%CI:1.157~2.064, P=0.003).3. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, the risks of UL increasedwith higher weight (OR=1.638,95%CI:1.168~2.614, P=0.012; OR=1.862,95%CI:1.231~2.833, P=0.004; OR=1.674,95%CI:1.072~2.551, P=0.012). The subjectsof24.00~27.99kg/m~2and≥28.00kg/m~2with BMI had risks of UL (OR=1.653,95%CI:1.187~2.369, P=0.002; OR=1.802,95%CI:1.139~2.916, P=0.004).Increased UL risks with increasing WC and WHR (OR=1.487,95%CI:1.074~1.934,P=0.013; OR=1.561,95%CI:1.170~2.069, P=0.003).Conclusions1. Increased weight had an elevated risk of UL.2. Decreased BMI was likely to act protectively for the development of UL.3. Abdominal obesity and central obesity were risk factors of UL.