OBJECTIVES: Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors. The objective is to describe the current clinical and economic burden of women diagnosed with UF only and UF with HMB.

METHODS: A retrospective, observational study using the Merative^TM MarketScan^® Commercial Database (2015-2022) identified women 18-55 years old newly diagnosed with UF with and without HMB. Cohorts were defined based on claim order: UF then HMB (UF-HMB), HMB then UF (HMB-UF), UF only and age matched 1:1:1; control (non-UF and non-HMB) cohort was age matched 5:1. Healthcare resource utilization and costs were assessed in the 12 months prior and following the first UF claim (UF cohorts) or a randomly assigned Obstetrician/gynecology visit (non-UF/non-HMB cohort).

RESULTS: The study included 22,057 women in each UF cohorts and 110,285 controls; all cohorts mean age was 43.5 years. Pre-UF diagnosis > 40% of patients in each UF cohort had > 1 bulk symptom. Post-UF diagnosis bulk symptoms increased in all UF cohorts ranging from 54-64%, with the most common being pelvic pressure/pain (36-49%), backache (17%) and urinary frequency/incontinence (11-13%). The HMB cohorts had the highest clinical burden post-UF diagnosis compared to UF only and the control group. Treatment patterns, following UF diagnosis demonstrated 18-38% received no pharmacological therapy of interest, < 30% received hormonal therapy, with oral contraceptives (15-20%) being the most common; a surgical/gynecological procedure occurred in < 57%, with hysterectomy (11-34%) being the most common.

The HMB-UF ($21,993±$31,189) and UF-HMB ($21,119±$28,772) cohorts had significantly higher all-cause post-UF diagnosis total costs compared to patients with UF only ($16,491±$36,111); all p<0.001. Total costs increased > 2 -fold from the pre- to post-UF diagnosis for all UF cohorts. Outpatient costs accounted for >50% of total costs pre- and post-diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study demonstrate a notable clinical and economic burden of UF, with HMB exacerbating the incremental burden over UF alone.