Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed operations for women in the United States and is the most common nonpregnancy-related surgery for women of all ages. We evaluated recent trends in hysterectomy rates in the United States. National Hospital Discharge Survey data for 1994-1998 were collected from a probability sample of inpatient discharge records from nonfederal short-stay hospitals in the United States. Overall and annual hysterectomy rates were computed per 1,000 females aged 15 years or older in the US civilian resident population. Hysterectomy rates increased significantly from 5.10 in 1994 to 5.78 in 1998 (p for trend=.04). The overall hysterectomy rate was 5.45 (95% CI=5.01-5.88). Black women had the highest overall rate (6.27). The overall hysterectomy rate for women aged 40-44 years was 11.71 (95% CI=10.70-12.72), which is significantly higher than for all other age groups. The overall rate for the South (6.52, 95% CI=5.54-7.51) was significantly higher than the rates for the Northeast and West. The diagnosis most commonly associated with hysterectomies was uterine leiomyoma. Fifty-five percent of hysterectomies were accompanied by bilateral oopherectomies, with 38% of hysterectomies with oopherectomies being performed on women aged 15-44 years. The percentage of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) increased almost twofold from 13% in 1994 to 25% in 1998 (p for trend <.01). Rates of hysterectomy, particularly LAVH, increased significantly during the years 1994-1998 and rates were highest among women aged 40-44 years, black, and living in the South. Research is needed to examine the causes of these increased rates of hysterectomy.
Learning Objectives: 1)Practice trends for hysterectomy in the United States 2)Describe the epidemiology of hysterectomy 3)Describe patient characteristics and diagnoses associated with hysterectomy 4)Recognize groups at highest risk
Keywords: Surveillance, Reproductive Morbidity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.