Rate of hospitalization for gynecologic disorders among reproductive-age women in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To analyze reproductive-tract disorders that resulted in hospitalization of reproductive-age women in the United States. METHODS: Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for 1988, 1989, and 1990 were used to study women 15-44 years old who had any gynecologic diagnoses noted in their discharge summaries. RESULTS: Based on average annual discharge rates per 10,000 women, the five most frequent diagnostic groups were pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (average annual rate 49.3, 95% confidence interval CI 43.6-55.0), benign cysts of the ovary (average annual rate 32.7, 95% CI 28.8-36.6), endometriosis (average annual rate 32.4, 95% CI 28.5-36.3), menstrual disorders (average annual rate 31.4, 95% CI 27.6-35.2), and uterine leiomyomas (average annual rate 30.4, 95% CI 26.7-34.1). The highest rates for PID were among women 25-39 years old and for women of races other than white. Highest rates for uterine leiomyomas were among women 40-44 years old and for women of races other than white. Highest rates for endometriosis were among women 40-44 years old and white women. Racial difference existed among all ages in the uterine leiomyoma and endometriosis groups. Average annual rates of benign cysts and menstrual disorders increased with age, but there were no statistically significant differences according to race in these two diagnostic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirmed the importance of PID as a common cause of hospitalization among reproductive-age women and identified additional gynecologic conditions as causes for hospitalization as well. We found significant age and racial differences not only among women with discharge diagnoses of PID but also among those with discharge diagnoses of uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis.