Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder among women in their reproductive years. Apart from reproductive and metabolic manifestations, recently more attention has been paid to psychological features of this syndrome. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of PCOS on quality of life and to estimate the frequency of anxiety and depression in Polish women with PCOS.

Methods: One hundred seventy five women with PCOS aged 16–44, diagnosed accordingly to the Rotterdam criteria, recruited from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Treatment, Wroclaw Medical University and Outpatient Endocrinological Department of Provincial Health Care Specialist Clinics in Wroclaw, Poland, completed two questionnaires: Polish versions of hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). The control group consisted of 30 healthy women.

Results: PCOS patients reported the lowest QoL in the psychological health domain. Environment and social relationships domains were also lower. The overall quality of life was 3.64±0.76 in the five-point Likert’s scale. 36.3% showed clinically relevant HADS anxiety scores and 9.6% had clinically relevant HADS depression scores, 8.3% had comorbid anxiety and depression. Lack of anxiety was significantly related with the better QoL.

Conclusions: Polycystic ovary syndrome decreases quality of life. PCOS may also increase risk for anxiety or comorbid anxiety and depression.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.