Uterine fibroids associated with higher risk of heart disease

Women diagnosed with uterine fibroids face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The Journal of the American Heart Association reports that 81% of 2.7 million women studied between 2000 and 2022 had an 81% great risk of coronary or peripheral artery disease and stroke. Though their cause remains unclear, uterine fibroids impact 26 million menopausal women across the United States. The Journal notes that studies on fibroids and cardiovascular disease are “sparse and inconclusive,” though previous reports found similar associations. “Our findings suggest that fibroids may serve as an important marker for identifying women at elevated cardiovascular risk, persisting up to 10 years after diagnosis,” says study author Julia DiTosto, a Ph.D. candidate in epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania.