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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Endometriosis | Research

Dysmenorrhea pattern in adolescences informing adult endometriosis

Authors: Yu Dai, Huangjin Luo, Litong Zhu, Weichun Yang, Haishan Xiang, Qiuling Shi, Ping Jin

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Endometriosis (EMs) is a chronic and progressive disease that, if diagnosed late, can lead to infertility and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Dysmenorrhea is the most prominent symptom of EMs. However, limited research exists on the specific correlation between dysmenorrhea patterns and EMs. Early prevention of EMs is essential to effectively manage the progression of the disease, and is best detected during adolescence. Our objective was to associate the development of EMs with dysmenorrhea patterns during adolescence and quantify the risk of adult EMs for adolescent girls, with the aim of supporting primary intervention strategy planning.

Methods

This case–control study examined predictors for adult EMs based on dysmenorrhea patterns in adolescents. We collected 1,287 cases of 641 EMs and 646 healthy females regarding their basic demographic information, adolescent menstrual characteristics, adolescent dysmenorrheal patterns, and adolescent lifestyles. Age-matching (1-to-1) was employed to control for the confounding effect of age between the groups. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and logistic regression models were utilized to identify predictors for adult EMs. The predictive value of the model was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the C-index, while Hosmer–Lemeshow Test assessed the goodness of fit of the model. Data from one additional cohort in Shenzhen hospitalized with EMs were used to external validation were analyzed.

Results

Individuals who always experienced dysmenorrhea had a risk of adult endometriosis 18.874 (OR = 18.874; 95%CI = 10.309–34.555) times higher than those occasional dysmenorrhea, The risk of developing EMs was 5.257 times higher in those who experienced dysmenorrhea more than 12 months after menarche than in those who experienced dysmenorrhea less than 6 months after menarche (OR = 5.257, 95% CI = 3.343–8.266), AUC in the external validation cohort was 0.794(95%CI: 0.741–0.847). We further found that high-intensity physical activity and sun-sensitive skin of burning were influential factors in high-frequency dysmenorrhea. The AUC value for the internal evaluation of the model was 0.812 and the AUC value for the external validation was 0.794.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that the frequency of dysmenorrhea during adolescence contributed to the development of adult endometriosis. The frequency and onset of dysmenorrhea in adolescence were promising predictors for adult EMs. Both internal and external validation proved the model's good predictive ability.

Trial registration

http://​www.​chictr.​org.​cn/​, TRN: ChicTR2200060429, date of registration: 2022/06/01, retrospectively registered.
Appendix
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Literature
Metadata
Title
Dysmenorrhea pattern in adolescences informing adult endometriosis
Authors
Yu Dai
Huangjin Luo
Litong Zhu
Weichun Yang
Haishan Xiang
Qiuling Shi
Ping Jin
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Endometriosis
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17825-2

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