The Influence of Study Quality, Age, and Geographic Factors on PCOS Prevalence-A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Epidemiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a widespread endocrine disorder with significant health implications.
• Existing global epidemiological data for PCOS is limited, hindering comprehensive understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a global estimation of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) prevalence.
• To analyze PCOS prevalence across different diagnostic criteria and demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase databases for PCOS studies in unselected populations up to February 2024.
• Inclusion of 88 studies encompassing 561,287 women, with quality assessment using the PCOS Epidemiology and Phenotype (PEP) tool.

Main Results:

• The Rotterdam criteria identified the highest PCOS prevalence, followed by AE-PCOS and NIH criteria. High-quality studies reported prevalences of 10.89% (Rotterdam), 10.61% (AE-PCOS), and 6.63% (NIH).
• No significant regional disparities in PCOS prevalence were found using NIH or Rotterdam criteria in high-quality studies. Data for the African Region was notably absent.
• A higher prevalence was observed in adults versus adolescents using the NIH criteria, though this difference lessened in high-quality studies.

Conclusions:

• Global PCOS prevalence estimates are influenced by diagnostic criteria and study quality.
• The findings underscore the importance of utilizing standardized, quality-assessment tools like the PEP tool for accurate PCOS epidemiological meta-analyses.
• Further research is needed to address data gaps, particularly in underrepresented regions and for specific age groups.