PCOS increases likelihood of eating, sleeping disorders
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are more likely to have an eating or sleeping disorder and report decreased sexual satisfaction than those without PCOS, according to a meta-analysis of studies published in Clinical Endocrinology.
“While there continues to be significant focus on the metabolic complications of PCOS, the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities that impact every aspect of female functioning including sleep, relationship with food as well as sexual function are often overlooked,” Asma Javed Chattha, MD, MBBS, a consultant in the department of pediatric and adolescent medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told Healio. “At the time of diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome, emphasis should be placed on addressing the overall functioning of the individual, particularly mood disorders as they pertain to sleep, sexual function and nutrition.”
In a systematic review and meta-analysis, Chattha and colleagues analyzed data from 36 studies conducted through August 2018 assessing prevalence of any eating, sleep or sexual function disorders among women with PCOS (n = 349,529). Researchers used a random-effects model to generate pooled ORs for binary outcomes and mean difference for continuous outcomes.
Compared with women without PCOS, women with PCOS were more likely to have bulimia nervosa (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.17-1.6), binge eating (OR = 2.95; 95% CI, 1.61-5.42) or any eating disorder (OR = 1.96; 95% CI 1.18-3.24); but not anorexia nervosa. Women with PCOS were also more likely to have sleep disorders such as hypersomnia (OR = 4.39; 95% CI, 1.07-18.07) and obstructive sleep apnea (OR = 10.81; 95% CI, 2.39-48.83). Additionally, women with PCOS had lower sexual satisfaction as measured by the visual analogue scale, with a mean difference of 29.67 (95% CI, –36.97 to –22.37); however, there were no between-group differences in Total Female Sexual Function Index scores.
The researchers noted that screening for these disorders among women with PCOS may allow early intervention and improve quality of life.
“A dearth of randomized clinical trials was a limitation for the current meta-analysis and will continue to be one for further study in this area unless more rigorous studies based on comparative analysis of women with PCOS vs. controls are performed,” Chattha said. – by Regina Schaffer
For more information:
Asma Javed Chattha, MD, MBBS, can be reached at Mayo Clinic, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905; email: chattha.asma@mayo.edu.
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts