Global, regional and national uterine fibroid burdens from 1990 to 2021 and projections until 2050: results from the GBD study.

Background: Uterine fibroids(UF), while histologically benign, constitute a pervasive yet inequitable epidemiological phenomenon characterized by disproportionately distributed morbidity burdens that correlate asymmetrically with regional development levels, compounded by intersecting socioeconomic determinants and genetic susceptibilities. We aimed to assess the global and regional burden of age-standardized UF in women from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: Age-standardized incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) rates attributable to UF were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. Temporal trends were evaluated using the average annual percentage change (AAPC), and future projections were conducted using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model.

Results: From 1990 to 2021, the global Age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) increased (AAPC = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.08), with the high increases occurring in Brazil, India, and Georgia. The Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) also increased globally (AAPC = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.27), although it declined in Poland. Age-standardized years lived with disability (YLDs) followed a similar global upward trend (AAPC = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.12) but decreased in some regions, including China, and Australia. The high-middle-SDI regions exhibited declining trends, whereas the low-middle-SDI regions exhibited increasing trends. Our projections suggested stabilization of these indicators by 2050.

Conclusions: UF remain the most common benign gynecological tumors and pose a substantial health care burden. Socioeconomic factors, diagnostic advancements, and lifestyle changes influence the long-term trends associated with their prevalence, incidence, and other related parameters. Increased epidemiological surveillance and more public health interventions are needed.