Cross-sectional study of the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in rural and urban populations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence and risk factor profile of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Haryana, India.

Methods: A large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age in Haryana between December 2015 and May 2017. A random multi-stage stratified sampling method was adopted. PCOS screening was based on questionnaires. Blood samples for hormonal analysis were collected from those with probable and definitive PCOS cases. Women with menstrual irregularities (MI), hyperandrogenism (HA), and polycystic ovaries (PCO) (Rotterdam criteria) were included. Females with thyroid disease, hyperprolactinemia, and adrenal hyperplasia were excluded.

Results: Among total 2400 women screened, 94 (4.21%) had PCOS. The PCOS phenotypes were 30% clinical HA (hirsutism, H), 64% biochemical HA, 35% PCO, 16% H+MI, 10% MI+PCO, 52% MI+HA, 14% PCO+H, and 19% PCO+H+HA. Overall, 67 (71%) of the women with PCOS resided in urban regions and 27 (29%) in rural regions.

Conclusion: Among the women with PCOS, a considerably higher proportion resided in urban regions of Haryana. The difference may be attributed to lifestyle and dietary factors. Ignoring PCOS may put women at risk of serious long-term health consequences that are difficult to manage. Lifestyle changes and continuous surveys should be promoted for better management.

Keywords: Cross-sectional; Diagnosis; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Prevalence; Rotterdam criteria; Rural urban India; Socioeconomic factors.