Susanna Mitro, PhD, reveals ethnic disparities in uterine fibroid diagnosis

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Susanna Mitro, PhD, research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, discussed a study evaluating trends of uterine fibroid diagnosis across racial and ethnic subgroups.

The study used a large and diverse sample of nearly 2 million patients, and findings revealed significant disparities in fibroid diagnoses among racial and ethnic groups. Notably, diagnosis rates were approximately 3-fold higher for Black patients compared to White patients, a trend supported by prior research. Among Asian subgroups, South Asian patients had a 71% higher diagnosis rate, East Asian patients 47% higher, and Southeast Asian patients 29% higher than White patients.

Hispanic patients also showed slightly elevated diagnosis rates in comparison to White patients. One of the key takeaways from this study is the substantial variability within Asian subgroups, emphasizing the need to avoid treating the Asian population as a monolith in medical research.

Mitro highlighted the research significance of the study, particularly because past investigations largely focused on Black and White populations, overlooking Asian ethnicities. This research, therefore, fills an important gap and may serve as a clinical reference to help practitioners better understand fibroid risk in Asian populations. The results could also pave the way for identifying modifiable risk factors that may differ by race or ethnicity, potentially leading to preventive strategies in the future.

While the study did not aim to explain the causes behind the disparities in diagnosis rates, Mitro pointed out several factors that might contribute. These include true differences in fibroid prevalence or burden, social and lifestyle influences, and patterns in health care utilization. For instance, cultural perceptions of symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and differences in when individuals seek medical care may influence whether fibroids are diagnosed. Moreover, incidental diagnoses during fertility workups could vary by group, further affecting diagnosis rates.

To ensure equitable care, clinicians must first become aware of implicit bias and other systemic issues that can lead to care disparities. As recommended by Mitro’s co-author, Eve Zaritsky, MD, raising awareness and building clinical frameworks to address these disparities is key. Importantly, the researchers clarified that their study does not claim clinical bias is the cause of these diagnostic differences, but remains a factor worth further exploration.

An additional finding was that Asian patients were less likely to have recorded symptoms of fibroids at the time of diagnosis. This may reflect differences in symptom perception, communication with clinicians, or medical documentation. Mitro emphasized this as an area for future research, underscoring the complexity of understanding fibroid diagnosis patterns across diverse populations.

Disclosures: No relevant disclosures

Reference

Mitro SD, Dyer W, Lee C, et al. Uterine fibroid diagnosis by race and ethnicity in an integrated health care system. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(4):e255235. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.5235