PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME AMONG PAKISTANI WOMEN

Abstract

Background: Among women of reproductive age worldwide, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a prevalent and complicated endocrine condition, is now the leading cause of irregular menstruation, hyperandrogenism and subfertility. Clinically, PCOS often manifests as irregular or absent menstruation, excessive growth of hair, acne, insulin resistance and obesity

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of polycystic ovarian syndrome among Pakistani women

Methodology: The current cross-sectional study was carried out at outpatient department of Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi Hospital, Bahawalpur. The study duration was one year from 1^st January 2024 to 31^st December 2024. The overall sample size in the current study was 120 based on WHO calculator for sample size. Every participant had a thorough clinical examination that included demographic data, menstrual history, anthropometric measures (weight, height, and BMI), and a modified Ferriman-Gallwey score to quantify hirsutism. SPSS version 24 was used to input all of the data for statistical analysis. Frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviations were computed using descriptive statistics. To find correlations between PCOS and possible risk variables, chi-square and independent t-tests were used. P-values below 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

Results: In the current study, a total of 120 women were enrolled to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with PCOS amongst women from south Punjab, Pakistan. The mean age (SD) of the women was 18 (±1.5) years. The mean (SD) BMI (kg/m²) was 24.2±2.84 kg/m². The frequency of overweight (BMI > 25) women was 51 (42.5%). The overall prevalence of PCOS was 28 (23.33%). The mean menstrual cycle length (days) was 41±3.11 days amongst women with PCOS while it was 29±4.01 days amongst women with non-PCOS. We found that prolonged menstrual cycle is significantly associated with PCOS (p=0.003). Amongst PCOS women, Hirsutism was observed in 20 (71.43%) while in non-PCOS women it was observed in 9 (9.8%) which showed more association with PCOS as compared to non-PCOS women (p=0.001). The different factors like physical inactivity, more consumption of junk food, prolonged use of screen, and poor duration of sleep were significantly associated with PCOS.

Conclusion: Our study concludes that the frequency of PCOS is high in Pakistani Women. Our study also observed a statistically significant association of PCOS with obesity, poor dietary habits and sedentary behavior.