Ana I Hernández-Peñalver1, Maria L Sánchez-Ferrer2, Jaime Mendiola3, Evdochia Adoamnei4, Maria T Prieto-Sánchez5, Shiana Corbalán-Biyang1, Ana Carmona-Barnosi1, Aníbal Nieto5, Alberto M Torres-Cantero6. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Virgen de la Arrixaca' University Clinical Hospital, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Virgen de la Arrixaca' University Clinical Hospital, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain. Electronic address: marisasanchez@um.es. 3. Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain; Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Murcia School of Medicine, Espinardo Murcia 30100, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid 28029, Spain. 4. Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain; Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Murcia School of Medicine, Espinardo Murcia 30100, Spain. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Virgen de la Arrixaca' University Clinical Hospital, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain; Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain. 6. Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain; Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Murcia School of Medicine, Espinardo Murcia 30100, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid 28029, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine, 'Virgen de la Arrixaca' University Clinical Hospital, El Palmar Murcia 30120, Spain.
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION: Is anogenital distance (AGD) a useful clinical tool for predicting polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and its main National Institutes of Health (NIH) phenotypes? DESIGN: Case-control study conducted between September 2014 and May 2016 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Clinical Hospital 'Virgen de la Arrixaca' in the Murcia region (south-eastern Spain). One hundred and twenty-six cases of PCOS and 159 controls without PCOS were included. AGD measurements were taken from the anterior clitoral surface to the upper verge of the anus (AGDAC), and from the posterior fourchette to the upper verge of the anus (AGDAF). Parametric and non-parametric tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess associations between AGD and the presence of PCOS and its phenotypes. RESULTS: AGDAC, but not AGDAF, was associated with PCOS and all its phenotypes (P-values < 0.001 to 0.048). The highest area under the curve (0.62; 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 0.71) was obtained for all PCOS with AGDAC with a sensitivity and specificity of 50.0% and 73.0%, and positive and negative predictive value of 59.0% and 64.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AGDAC could moderately discriminate the presence of PCOS and may be a useful clinical tool.
RESEARCH QUESTION: Is anogenital distance (AGD) a useful clinical tool for predicting polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and its main National Institutes of Health (NIH) phenotypes? DESIGN: Case-control study conducted between September 2014 and May 2016 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Clinical Hospital 'Virgen de la Arrixaca' in the Murcia region (south-eastern Spain). One hundred and twenty-six cases of PCOS and 159 controls without PCOS were included. AGD measurements were taken from the anterior clitoral surface to the upper verge of the anus (AGDAC), and from the posterior fourchette to the upper verge of the anus (AGDAF). Parametric and non-parametric tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess associations between AGD and the presence of PCOS and its phenotypes. RESULTS: AGDAC, but not AGDAF, was associated with PCOS and all its phenotypes (P-values < 0.001 to 0.048). The highest area under the curve (0.62; 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 0.71) was obtained for all PCOS with AGDAC with a sensitivity and specificity of 50.0% and 73.0%, and positive and negative predictive value of 59.0% and 64.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AGDAC could moderately discriminate the presence of PCOS and may be a useful clinical tool.