Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is more common in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). There is paucity of data regarding the impact of OSA in women with PCOS.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using electronic patients’ records of premenopausal women with PCOS who were first seen in the weight management clinic (WMC) between March/2008 and November/2014. PCOS diagnosis was documented either by referring clinician or established at the WMC using the Rotterdam Criteria. OSA risk was assessed clinically based on history of snoring and daytime sleepiness. Those with high risk of OSA were referred for sleep studies. Based on the results of the clinical assessment and sleep studies, patients were classified into three groups: (1) PCOS and low risk of OSA (not requiring sleep studies); (2) PCOS without OSA (negative sleep studies); and (3) PCOS with OSA (diagnosed as apnoea/hypopnoea index ≥5 events/hour).

Results: Seventy-five women were identified, 31 women were excluded (25 had no documented assessment of OSA risk, whilst 6 failed to complete sleep studies). Out of the remaining 44 women: 16 (36.3%) had PCOS and low risk of OSA; 15 (34.1%) had PCOS without OSA; and 13 had (29.6%) PCOS with OSA. There were no between groups differences in age (31.6 (±6.3) vs 30.1 (±8.0) vs 28.9 (±4.3) years, P=0.49, respectively). The body mass index (44.9 (±7.3) vs 47.2 (±4.9) vs 50.6 (±3.6) kg/m², P=0.03); and the prevalence of depression (4 (25%) vs 6 (40%) vs 10 (76.9%), P=0.02) were greater in the OSA group. Following adjustment for BMI, OSA remained associated with depression (odds ratio: 6.5, 95% confidence interval=1.1 – 39.3, P=0.042). There were no between groups differences in testosterone, SHBG, FSH, LH, ALT, HbA1C, and lipids.

Conclusions: OSA is associated with depression in morbidly obese women with PCOS. The impact of OSA treatment on depression need to be examined.