Uterine Fibroids as an Early Indicator of Heart Disease Risk in Women
Key Takeaways
- Uterine fibroids may serve as an early signal for heart disease in women
- Women with fibroids have an over 80% higher risk of developing heart disease
- The increased risk is even more pronounced in women under 40, at about 3.5 times higher
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that uterine fibroids could act as an early warning sign for cardiovascular disease in women.
Researchers found that women diagnosed with fibroids carried more than an 80% higher risk of developing heart disease over time. Lead author Julia DiTosto, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania, described fibroids as a potential marker for identifying women at elevated cardiovascular risk, noting that the heightened risk persisted for up to a decade after diagnosis.
Fibroids are noncancerous growths inside the muscular wall of the uterus. While they are common and may cause few or no symptoms for many, their prevalence is substantial: estimates suggest up to 20% of women develop fibroids by age 50, with some analyses indicating the figure could be higher.
In a news release, DiTosto emphasized that despite how widespread fibroids are, they remain understudied and not well understood. For many, symptoms can include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, and pelvic pain, although some individuals experience none of these symptoms.
In this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 450,000 women with fibroids and compared them with about 2.2 million women without fibroids, using information collected between 2000 and 2022. The investigators aimed to determine whether fibroids correlated with increased risks of heart disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.
After ten years, roughly 5.4% of women with fibroids had experienced a heart-related event (such as a heart attack or stroke) versus 3% of women without fibroids. Overall, the study reported an 81% higher risk of heart disease over a decade for women with fibroids. Notably, the highest relative risk was seen in women under 40, who faced about 3.5 times the likelihood of developing heart disease compared to their peers without fibroids.
While the association appears strong, DiTosto cautioned that further research is necessary to confirm these findings across diverse populations before any changes are made to official cardiovascular risk guidelines.
Proposed mechanisms behind the link include shared biological pathways between fibroids and cardiovascular disease, such as abnormal smooth muscle cell growth, fibrous tissue buildup, calcification, and inflammatory processes.
Commenting on the study, Dr. Stacey Rosen of the American Heart Association highlighted the importance of recognizing how cardiovascular risk factors uniquely impact women. She also underscored the critical role of comprehensive care—from gynecologists to primary care physicians—in addressing heart health during routine, annual well-woman visits.
What this means for you
If you have uterine fibroids, it may be worth discussing your heart disease risk with your healthcare provider and exploring lifestyle strategies—such as adopting a heart-healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity—that can help reduce risk.
For more information, Johns Hopkins Medicine provides resources on uterine fibroids.
Source: American Heart Association press release, December 10, 2025
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