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Association of uterine fibroids with increased blood pressure: a cross-sectional study and meta-analysis

Hypertension Research volume 45, pages 715–721 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign gynecological tumor and greatly affect reproductive health in women of reproductive age. Some studies have indicated an association between UFs and several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. To determine whether UFs are associated with increased blood pressure, we performed a cross-sectional study and meta-analysis. In the cross-sectional study, 8401 participants who underwent a physical examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College from June 2011 to June 2013 were divided into a uterine fibroid group (1617 cases) and a control group (6784 cases) to assess the relationship between UFs and blood pressure. Then, we conducted a systematic review to confirm the results. The cross-sectional study showed that UFs were associated with an increased rate of elevated blood pressure [OR = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.016–1.792]. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between UFs and the prevalence of hypertension [pooled OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.17–1.75, P = 0.0004; I2 = 68%]. Thus, UFs may be associated with the prevalence of hypertension. Women with uterine fibroids should be closely monitored for hypertension.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants involved in this study for their critical contributions. We would like to thank Dr. Stanley Li Lin, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, for his helpful comments and English language editing. The corresponding author attests that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no others meeting the criteria have been omitted.

Funding

1. Grant for Key Disciplinary Project of Clinical Medicine under the High-level University Development Program, Guangdong, China (2020); 2. Innovation Team Project of Guangdong Universities, China (Natural, No. 2019KCXTD003); 3. Supported by 2020 Li Ka Shing Foundation Cross-Disciplinary Research Grant (2020LKSFG19B); 4. Funding for Guangdong Medical Leading Talent, the First Affiliated Hospital, SUMC, China (2019–2022); 5. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82073659).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Yequn Chen, Nianling Xiong, Jiaxin Xiao

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China

    Yequn Chen, Jiaxin Xiao, Xiru Huang, Rongbing Chen, Shu Ye & Xuerui Tan

  2. Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College (SUMC), Shantou, China

    Yequn Chen & Xuerui Tan

  3. Institute of Clinical Electrocardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College (SUMC), Shantou, China

    Yequn Chen & Xuerui Tan

  4. Institute of Cardiac Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College (SUMC), Shantou, China

    Yequn Chen & Xuerui Tan

  5. Nanchang University Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

    Nianling Xiong

  6. Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China

    Xiru Huang, Rongbing Chen, Shu Ye & Xuerui Tan

  7. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Shu Ye & Xuerui Tan

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  1. Yequn Chen
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Correspondence to Shu Ye or Xuerui Tan.

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Chen, Y., Xiong, N., Xiao, J. et al. Association of uterine fibroids with increased blood pressure: a cross-sectional study and meta-analysis. Hypertens Res 45, 715–721 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-022-00856-w

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