Population-based data at ages 31 and 46 show decreased HRQoL and life satisfaction in women with PCOS symptoms.

• Published in: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Main Authors: Karjula, S, Morin-Papunen, L, Franks, S, Auvinen, J, Järvelin, M-R, Tapanainen, JS, Jokelainen, J, Miettunen, J, Piltonen, TT
• Other Authors: MRC
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2020
• Subjects: FAI; PCOS; QoL; aging; hirsutism; testosterone; 1103 Clinical Sciences; 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/76477; https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgz256

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but longitudinal data beyond the reproductive years are lacking, and the impact of isolated PCOS symptoms is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To study generic HRQoL using 15D, life satisfaction, and self-reported health status in women with PCOS symptoms at ages 31 and 46yr. DESIGN: A longitudinal assessment using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: The 15D data were available for women reporting isolated oligomenorrhea (OA;at age 31yr:214 and 46yr: 211), isolated hirsutism (H; 31yr:211 and 46yr:216), OA+H (PCOS; 31yr:74 and 46yr:75), or no PCOS symptoms (controls; 31yr:1382 and 46yr:1412). Data for life satisfaction and current health status were available for OA (31yr:329 and 46yr:247), H (31yr:323 and 46yr:238), PCOS (31yr:125 and 46yr:86), control (31yr:2182 and 46yr:1613) groups. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): 15D HRQoL, questionnaires on life satisfaction, and self-reported health status. RESULTS: HRQoL was lower at ages 31 and 46 in women with PCOS or H compared with the controls. PCOS was an independent risk factor for low HRQoL, and the decrease in HRQoL in PCOS was comparable to that of women with other chronic conditions, like asthma, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. The risk for low HRQoL in PCOS remained significant after adjusting for BMI, hyperandrogenism, and socioeconomic status. Mental distress was the strongest contributing factor to HRQoL. PCOS was also associated with a risk for low life satisfaction and a 4-fold risk for reporting a poor health status. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PCOS present with low HRQoL, decreased life satisfaction, and a poorer self-reported health status up to their late reproductive years. Assessments and interventions aiming to improve HRQoL in PCOS should be targeted beyond fertile age.