Author(s)

Monzango Sibo^1,2, Esimo Mboloko¹, Lobota Mputu¹, Itewa Monka^1,2, Mayoka Mamoi^1,2, Naomie Amba^1,2, Ntanga Kabuya^1,2, Clément Ferrier³, Maxime Fastrez⁴, Daraï Emile³, Sendeke Mogwo¹, Jean-Claude Mulunda⁵

¹Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
²Department of Gynecology, Service of Laparoscopic Surgery, Onyx Medical Center, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
³Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tenon Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.
⁴Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erasme Endometriosis Clinic, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium.
⁵IPAS Non Governmental Organization, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition defined by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus affecting approximately one in 10 women worldwide. Endometriosis is source of chronic pelvic pain and infertility and represents a significant economic burden. This study aims to determine the frequency of hypovitaminosis E in sub-Saharan women in Kinshasa with endometriosis and identify associated risk factors. A case-control study of 244 patients undergoing a laparoscopy in 8 Kinshasa medical centers between January 2019 and October 2022. Among these, 82 women with endometriosis (cases) and 164 women with a normal pelvis (controls) were matched in age function. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to compare these two groups. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors related to endometriosis. Hypovitaminosis E in women with endometriosis was 74.39%. Dysmenorrhea (OR 24.234 [95% CI: 12.141 - 50.026)], p < 0.001), nulliparity (OR 5.157 [95% CI: 2.458 - 10.819], p < 0.001), history of unsafe abortion (OR 8.389 [95% CI: 4.277 - 16.476], p < 0.001), infertility (OR 5.157 [95% CI: 2.458 - 10.819], p = 0.02), early menarche (OR 28.830 [95% CI: 13.640 - 60.933], p < 0.001) and hypovitaminosis E (OR 4.538 [95% CI: 2.523 - 8.161], p < 0.001 were identified as risk factors. Use of oral contraceptives (OR 0.188 [95% CI: 0.093 - 0.381], p < 0.001) had a protective factor against endometriosis. Despite some limits, our data underline the role of vitamin E deficiency as a potential factor of endometriosis in a sub-Saharan population especially subject to deficiency intake.

Endometriosis, Risk Factors, Sub-Saharan Women, Hypovitaminosis E, Unsafe Abortion

Sibo, M., Mboloko, E., Mputu, L., Monka, I., Mamoi, M., Amba, N., Kabuya, N., Ferrier, C., Fastrez, M., Emile, D., Mogwo, S. and Mulunda, J.-C. (2023) Hypovitaminosis E and Endometriosis in a Sub-Saharan Population. Open Access Library Journal, 10, 1-15. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1110485.