Long-term quality of life assessment among patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization.
Popovic M, Berzaczy D, Puchner S, Zadina A, Lammer J, Bucek RA.
Department of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. martin.popovic@meduniwien.ac.at
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was assessment of the long-term outcome of fibroid-associated quality of life among patients treated with uterine fibroid embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective follow-up cohort study included all patients described in a 2006 publication. Analysis was performed with a questionnaire consisting of 49 questions about six topics. Assessment was focused on comparing symptoms and quality of life in long-term follow-up. RESULTS: The analysis was based on questionnaires completed by 39 patients. The median follow-up period was 7 years (interquartile range, 1.5 years). Uterine fibroid embolization led to a reduction of bleeding symptoms in 89.7% of the patients, pain in 78.9%, bulk-related symptoms in 89.5%, fatigue in 76.9%, limitations of social life in 92.9%, and depression in 78.6%. The median impairment scores for bleeding and pain decreased significantly from 7 to 0 and from 5 to 0 (both p < 0.001). The general quality-of-life index increased significantly from 4.5 to 9 (p < 0.001). In the long term, there was no significant difference in parameters assessed compared with the midterm follow-up findings. Six patients (15.4%) underwent hysterectomy an average of 32.1 months after intervention. Thirty-two patients (82.1%) continued to be satisfied with the intervention, and 30 patients (76.9%) answered that they would recommend uterine fibroid embolization to other patients. CONCLUSION: Uterine fibroid embolization seems to lead to notable long-term relief of fibroid-associated symptoms. In comparison with the midterm results, long-term outcome shows a clear continuance of improvement in general quality of life.
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- 1 Pelvic Pain. Is this a common problem?
- 2 What are the common causes of pelvic pain in women?
- 3 What are the more common gynaecological causes of pelvic pain?
- 4 What are the more common non-gynaecological causes of pelvic pain?
- 5 What are primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea - painful periods?
- 6 What is retrograde menstruation?
- 7 How can dysmenorrhoea - painful periods be treated?
- 8 What are ovarian cysts?
- 9 How do ovarian cysts cause pain?
- 10 How are ovarian cysts diagnosed?
- 11 How are ovarian cysts treated?
- 12 I think I may be pregnant and I have some pelvic pain. What should I do?
- 13 What is pelvic inflammatory disease and how can it be treated?
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- What are fibroids?
- I have fibroids. What difficulties might they cause for me?
- How are fibroids diagnosed?
- How could my fibroids be treated?
ENDOMETRIOSIS
- What is endometriosis?
- How prevalent is endometriosis?
- What causes endometriosis?
- How can my endometriosis be treated?
- How can my doctor determine the cause of my pelvic pain?
- What investigations might be recommended by my gynaecologist to investigate my pelvic pain?
- What is laparoscopy?
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IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME - IBS
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- How could we summarise the treatments that are available for my pelvic pain?
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- Pelvic Pain Support Groups.
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