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Maternal, neonatal complications associated with PCOS
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Women with polycystic ovary syndrome were more likely to experience maternal and neonatal complications than women without the syndrome, and the risks for complications were highest among women with hyperandrogenic polycystic ovary syndrome, according to researchers from the Netherlands.
Marlieke A. de Wilde, MD, PhD, of the department of reproductive medicine and gynecology at University Medical Center Utrecht, and colleagues evaluated data from the Complication of PCOS Pregnancy: Evaluating Risk study on 188 women with PCOS and singleton pregnancies and data from the Risk Estimation for Pregnancy Complications to Provide Tailored Care cohort on 2,889 women with a naturally conceived singleton pregnancy as a reference group. Researchers sought to determine the presence of maternal and neonatal complications among women with PCOS with either normal or elevated androgen levels.
The PCOS group was more likely to have maternal complications than the reference group (32% vs. 12%; P < .001). Following adjustment for potential confounders, the risks for gestational diabetes (adjusted OR = 4.15; 95% CI, 2.07-8.33), having an infant small for gestational age (aOR = 3.76; 95% CI, 1.69-8.35) and preterm delivery due to labor induction (aOR = 7.77; 95% CI, 1.81-33.40) were higher among the PCOS group compared with the reference group.
Researchers also performed a subgroup analysis comparing participants with hyperandrogenic PCOS (n = 44%) or normoandrogenic PCOS (56%) and the reference group. Participants with hyperandrogenic PCOS had a higher prevalence of maternal complications compared with participants with normoandrogenic PCOS (45% vs. 24%; P = .003). Gestational diabetes was more prevalent in the normoandrogenic (16%; aOR = 3.17; 95% CI, 1.28-7.84) and hyperandrogenic PCOS groups (34%; aOR = 5.65; 95% CI, 2.49-12.81) compared with the reference group (5%). Infants who were small for gestational age were more likely to be born to the normoandrogenic (8%; aOR = 3.26; 95% CI, 1.27-8.36) and hyperandrogenic PCOS groups (12%; aOR = 5.25; 95% CI, 2-13.81) compared with the reference group (6%).
“Based on our results, we think it may be useful to observe women with PCOS who have a high chance for maternal and neonatal pregnancy complications,” the researchers wrote. “Additional measures taken early during pregnancy may subsequently decrease the occurrence of complications in these women.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosures: de Wilde reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for a list of all other authors relevant financial disclosures.
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