Overview
- Analyzing Optum Clinformatics claims from 2000–2022, the study compared 450,177 women with fibroids to 2,250,885 matched controls, with a mean age of 41.
- Cumulative 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease incidence was 5.42% in the fibroid group versus 3.00% in controls.
- Elevated risk was observed across coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease and was consistent across race and age subgroups.
- Women younger than 40 with fibroids showed a markedly higher relative risk, reported as 251% at 10 years.
- The observational design limits causal inference, and authors cite potential underdiagnosis and billing-code constraints while recommending replication and targeted preventive care conversations.