Health-related quality of life and its relationship with clinical symptoms among Iranian patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] has been shown to cause a reduction in Health-related quality of life [HRQOL]. This study examines the extent of different clinical symptoms in PCOS patients on HRQOL. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to ascertain the factors related to HRQOL in 200 PCOS patients in Kashan, Iran. Main outcome measures were modified polycystic ovarian syndrome questionnaire [MPCOSQ] and clinical information of PCOS. Major clinical PCOS features including obesity [BMI], excessive body hair [hirsutism score], acne, menstrual cycle disturbances and infertility. Findings showed that the most common HRQOL concern was menstrual irregularities and infertility, followed in descending order by hirsutism, weight, emotion, and acne. Multivariate analysis revealed the menstrual irregularities as a significant predictor of menstruation [p=0.005], emotion [p=0.02] and infertility [p=0.02] subscales of the MPCOSQ. Having of infertility, predicted scores on the infertility subscale [p<0.0001]. Hirsutism score was a significant predictor of hirsutism [p<0.0001] and emotion [p<0.0001] subscales. Weight subscale concerns was predicted by BMI [p<0.0001], also, acne was found to be predicted score of acne subscale [p<0.0001]. Worsened HRQOL in women with PCOS was related to more menstrual irregularities and infertility than to obesity. The finding suggests a potential for poorer compliance with weight management protocols among affected PCOS patients.

Iranian version of modified polycystic ovary syndrome health-related quality of Life questionnaire: Discriminant and convergent validity

A preliminary report indicated that the Iranian version of modified polycystic ovary syndrome health-related quality of life questionnaire [MPCOSQ] is a valid measure of health-related quality of life [HRQOL] in PCOS patients. Accordingly, the Iranian version of MPCOSQ was subjected to further psychometric analyses among a different sample of patients with PCOS. To examine discriminant and convergent validity of the Iranian version of MPCOSQ. This was a cross sectional study of 200 women with PCOS that was carried out in two private gynecology clinics in Kashan, Iran. Discriminant validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the MPCOSQ and the SF-36. The mean scores for the MPCOSQ showed that women rated lowest on the infertility and menstrual subscales indicating worst health in these dimensions. The results from the SF-36 questionnaire indicated that emotional and vitality domains were the areas of poorest health. Known groups comparison showed that the MPCOSQ differentiated well between sub-groups of women who differed in PCOS specific symptoms, lending support to its discriminant validity. Convergent validity was assessed and as expected a good positive correlation was found between related subscales of the two instruments. The MPCOSQ has now been extensively tested in Iran and can be considered for using as an outcome measure in future outcome studies in this population

Body image satisfaction and self-esteem status among the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Most previous research has focused on polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] characteristics and their association with psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression. In the present study, our aim was to study whether PCOS characteristics are associated with several aspects of psychological well-being namely self-esteem and body satisfaction. This was a cross-sectional study of 300 women with PCOS that was carried out in Kashan, Iran. Main outcome measures were the Body Image Concern Inventory [BICI] and the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale and clinical information of PCOS. Major clinical PCOS features including obesity [BMI], excessive body hair [hirsutism score], acne, menstrual cycle disturbances and infertility. The findings of regression analysis indicated that infertile women had lower levels of self-esteem [beta=-0.11, p=0.049] and poorer body satisfaction [=0.121, p=0.036] compared with PCOS women without infertility. Furthermore, hirsute women experienced poorer self-esteem than women without hirsutism [beta=-0.124, p=0.032]. Women with menstrual irregularities had higher body dissatisfaction [beta=0.159, p=0.005]. Moreover, women with higher body mass index scores had poorer body satisfaction [beta =0.151, p=0.009] but were not associated with self-esteem. The emotional well-being of the patients presenting with the syndrome needs to be recognized more fully, particularly in relation to the low self-esteem, poor body image, and struggles with weight, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and infertility. The results of this study raise implications for clinical practice and suggest that a multidisciplinary approach to the management of women with PCOS