The Association Of Physical Activities With Uterine Leiomyoma

ObjectiveTo investigate the status of epidemiology and population characteristics ofuterine leiomyoma (UL) among middle aged and elderly women in Jinzhou, toexplore the association of physical activity type (recreational and occupationalphysical activity) and level (physical activity intensity, time, metabolic equivalents(MET) and energy expended) with the risk of UL, and to provide the theory basis ofpreventing and controlling UL from the level of physical activity．MethodsA hospital-based case control study was conducted. Cases (n=382) werepatients with UL35~62years old, and controls (n=382) were patients who hadbeen admitted to the same hospital for diseases not related with UL. All subjectswere interviewed using a structured interviewer-administrated questionnaire thatincluded information on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits anddetailed medical history. Simultaneously, physical activities were investigated usinginternational physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). Time spent per week indifferent physical activities was converted to metabolic equivalents (MET). SPSS13.0statistical analysis software was used to analyze the correlation of physicalactivity and UL. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding95%confidence intervals(95%CI) were estimated using multivariable conditional logistic regression modelsto assess the association between physical activity and UL.Results1. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, compared to total physical activity≤137.20MET-h/w, the OR for UL in178.11~229.35MET-h/w was0.486(95%CI:0.350~0.863, P=0.001). In occupational physical activity, women in thethird quintile of physical activity compared with those in the lowest quintile ofphysical activity had lower risk (OR=0.664,95%CI:0.423~0.961, P=0.012). Inrecreational physical activity, compared to the lowest quartile, the OR in highestquartile of MET was0.793(95%CI:0.589~0.978, P=0.045). In housework,participants in physical activity≥28.81MET-h/w had1.5times the risk of UL as didthose in physical activity≤8.70MET-h/w (OR=1.474,95%CI:1.016~2.142, P=0.029). Communicational physical activity was not associated with UL (P>0.05).However, vigorous physical activity (>6METs)≥4.51h/w could decrease the risk ofUL (OR=0.601,95%CI:0.402~0.997, P=0.011).2. In total occupational physical activity, after adjusting for multiple potentialconfounders, higher energy expended was associated with an decreased risk of UL.Compared to the lowest quartile, the OR in third quartile of energy expended was0.469(95%CI:0.291~0.701, P=0.002). In light physical activity, participants in thehighest quartile of energy expended had lower risk (OR=0.551,95%CI:0.071~0.913, P=0.029). Similarly, there was a negative association betweenenergy expended and UL(OR=0.574,95%CI:0.335~0.991, P=0.009) for thosewith moderate physical activity. Nevertheless, energy expended showed noassociation with UL for those with vigorous physical activity (P=0.506).Therelationship analysis of occupational physical activity and UL according to BMIshows that, for subjects with BMI≤21.34kg/m2, occupational physical activitieswere not associated with UL (P>0.05). Moderate occupational physical activitycould decrease the risk of UL in the subjects with second quartile of BMI (OR=0.451,95%CI:0.220~0.924, P=0.030). After adjustment for multiple potentialconfounders, results remained essentially unchanged. For subjects with thirdquartile of BMI (23.80~27.12kg/m2), Compared to the lowest quartile, the OR inthird quartile of metabolic equivalents was0.389(95%CI:0.186~0.808, P=0.011).3. In recreational physical activity, after adjusting for multiple potentialconfounders, Compared to the lowest quartile, participants in the second and third quartile of energy expended had lower risks (respectively: OR=0.622,95%CI:0.410~0.934, P=0.011; OR=0.513,95%CI:0.345~0.886, P=0.004).Conclusions1. Moderate occupational and recreational physical activities could decreasethe risk of UL.2. In housework, participants in physical activity≥28.81MET-h/w had greaterrisk of UL.3. Communicational physical activity was not associated with UL.