Childhood social and economic disadvantage and the risk of uterine fibroids among Black women

Abstract

The association of childhood social and economic disadvantage (“disadvantage”) and uterine fibroid risk is understudied. We examined the association between disadvantage and fibroid incidence using standardized ultrasound exams at repeated visits, among 1230 participants 23 to 35 years of age in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids. Six disadvantage variables collected at baseline (ie, food insecurity, neighborhood safety, childhood income, mother’s educational attainment, household composition, and quiet bedroom for sleep) were evaluated separately, and using a latent class dichotomous (high/low) disadvantage variable. We also looked at possible modifying effects of a supportive childhood environment. Using Cox models to estimate incidence rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), with age as the time scale, we found little evidence for an increased risk of fibroids for any of the disadvantage variables or with the latent class construct. Having a supportive social environment in childhood had little impact on the associations between disadvantage and fibroid incidence. These findings are consistent with and expand upon prior findings from large studies with more limited data on social and economic disadvantage and less accurate data on timing of fibroid incidence.