Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with obesity and increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: The aim of the present prospective cohort study was to investigate possible associations between PCOS and obstetric outcomes in 199 Danish women with PCOS and 995 controls and to describe the impact of different PCOS phenotypes on the risk of adverse obstetric outcomes.

Methods: Women diagnosed with PCOS at Odense University Hospital who had singleton pregnancies and childbirths during 2003–2011 (n=199) were identified. A control group was matched to the study cohort according to date of childbirth (n=995). Data on maternal age, parity, pre-gestational BMI, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), preeclampsia, shoulder dystocia, instrumental delivery and caesarean delivery and data on gestational age and size at birth and Apgar score in the offspring were prospectively collected.

Results: Pre-gestational BMI was significantly higher in women with PCOS than controls, median (quartiles): 26.0 (22.0-31.6) vs 23.2 (20.9-26.1) kg/m², P<0.05. There was no significant difference in parity or age at birth. The risk of GDM was significantly increased in women with PCOS compared to controls (odds ratio (95% CI) 4.69 (2.30-9.56). The odds ratio was 3.25 (1.54–6.88) after adjustment for age, parity and BMI. The risk of PIH and LGA was increased in women with PCOS vs controls but there was no difference after adjustment for age, parity and BMI. In analysis of LGA, GDM was also included as a possible confounder. Individual PCOS phenotypes were not associated to obstetric outcomes in PCOS.

Conclusions: PCOS is associated with increased risk of GDM. PCOS does not significantly increase the risk of other adverse obstetric outcomes.