Linda Kujanpää1,2,3, Riikka K Arffman1,2,3, Paula Pesonen4, Elisa Korhonen1,2,3, Salla Karjula1,2,3, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin5,6,7,8, Stephen Franks9, Juha S Tapanainen1,2,3,10, Laure Morin-Papunen1,2,3, Terhi T Piltonen1,2,3. 1. PEDEGO Research Unit (Research Unit for Pediatrics, Dermatology, Clinical Genetics, Obstetrics and Gynecology), University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 2. Medical Research Center Oulu (MRC Oulu), University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 4. Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Center for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK. 6. Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. 7. Unit of Primary Health Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 8. Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK. 9. Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK. 10. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This population-based follow-up study investigated the comorbidities, medication use, and healthcare services among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at age 46 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 and consisted of women reporting oligo/amenorrhea and hirsutism at age 31 years and/or a PCOS diagnosis by age 46 years (n = 246) and controls without PCOS symptoms or diagnosis (n = 1573), referred to as non-PCOS women. The main outcome measures were self-reported data on symptoms, diagnosed diseases, and medication and healthcare service use at the age of 46 years. RESULTS: Overall morbidity risk was increased by 35% (risk ratio [RR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.57) and medication use by 27% [RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08-1.50) compared with non-PCOS women, and the risk remained after adjusting for body mass index. Diagnoses with increased prevalence in women with PCOS were migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, fractures, and endometriosis. PCOS was also associated with autoimmune diseases and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and symptoms. Interestingly, healthcare service use did not differ between the study groups after adjusting for body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PCOS are burdened with multimorbidity and higher medication use, independent of body mass index.
INTRODUCTION: This population-based follow-up study investigated the comorbidities, medication use, and healthcare services among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at age 46 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 and consisted of women reporting oligo/amenorrhea and hirsutism at age 31 years and/or a PCOS diagnosis by age 46 years (n = 246) and controls without PCOS symptoms or diagnosis (n = 1573), referred to as non-PCOS women. The main outcome measures were self-reported data on symptoms, diagnosed diseases, and medication and healthcare service use at the age of 46 years. RESULTS: Overall morbidity risk was increased by 35% (risk ratio [RR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.57) and medication use by 27% [RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08-1.50) compared with non-PCOS women, and the risk remained after adjusting for body mass index. Diagnoses with increased prevalence in women with PCOS were migraine, hypertension, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, fractures, and endometriosis. PCOS was also associated with autoimmune diseases and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and symptoms. Interestingly, healthcare service use did not differ between the study groups after adjusting for body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PCOS are burdened with multimorbidity and higher medication use, independent of body mass index.