Prevalence and sociodemographic distribution of endometriosis symptoms and indicators in Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence and sociodemographic distribution of endometriosis symptoms and indicators in Denmark

AU - Josiasen, Marie

AU - Røssell, Eeva-Liisa

AU - Zhu, Tong

AU - Melgaard, Anna

AU - Saraswat, Lucky

AU - Horne, Andrew W

AU - Hansen, Karina Ejgaard

AU - Rytter, Dorte

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is characterized by a range of non-specific symptoms which may contribute to the significant delay in diagnosis. Knowledge about the distribution of endometriosis symptoms across different geographical regions as well as other sociodemographic factors could add knowledge and guide initiatives to reduce this underdiagnosis. This study aims to explore how the prevalence of endometriosis symptoms and indicators are linked to the different sociodemographic factors.STUDY DESIGN: The study used data from the CYKLUS-survey; a women's health survey sent to 63,199 Danish women aged 16 to 51 in 2023. Self-reported information on endometriosis symptoms and indicators was linked to Danish register data on sociodemographic factors. Age-standardized prevalence of six endometriosis symptoms and indicators were estimated for each of the nine different regions of residence and for the whole country. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between sociodemographic factors and the six endometriosis symptoms and indicators.RESULTS: 11,407 women were included in the study. Age-standardized prevalence of symptoms showed little variation across Danish regions. However, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, and non-Danish origin were found to be associated with higher prevalences, and higher education was found to be associated with lower prevalences.CONCLUSION: No major regional differences in endometriosis symptoms and indicators were found. However, associations were found between several sociodemographic factors and endometriosis symptoms and indicators, suggesting disparities in the burden of symptoms. These findings call for further investigation into factors causing these disparities in Denmark.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is characterized by a range of non-specific symptoms which may contribute to the significant delay in diagnosis. Knowledge about the distribution of endometriosis symptoms across different geographical regions as well as other sociodemographic factors could add knowledge and guide initiatives to reduce this underdiagnosis. This study aims to explore how the prevalence of endometriosis symptoms and indicators are linked to the different sociodemographic factors.STUDY DESIGN: The study used data from the CYKLUS-survey; a women's health survey sent to 63,199 Danish women aged 16 to 51 in 2023. Self-reported information on endometriosis symptoms and indicators was linked to Danish register data on sociodemographic factors. Age-standardized prevalence of six endometriosis symptoms and indicators were estimated for each of the nine different regions of residence and for the whole country. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between sociodemographic factors and the six endometriosis symptoms and indicators.RESULTS: 11,407 women were included in the study. Age-standardized prevalence of symptoms showed little variation across Danish regions. However, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, and non-Danish origin were found to be associated with higher prevalences, and higher education was found to be associated with lower prevalences.CONCLUSION: No major regional differences in endometriosis symptoms and indicators were found. However, associations were found between several sociodemographic factors and endometriosis symptoms and indicators, suggesting disparities in the burden of symptoms. These findings call for further investigation into factors causing these disparities in Denmark.

KW - Cross-sectional study

KW - Endometriosis

KW - Questionnaire

KW - Register-based study

KW - Sociodemography

KW - Symptoms

KW - Women's health

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85216666884&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.01.051

DO - 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.01.051

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39908742

SN - 0301-2115

VL - 307

SP - 109

EP - 120

JO - European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

JF - European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

ER -