Características fenotípicas y factores de riesgo de síndrome de ovario poliquístico en estudiantes enfermeras / Phenotype characteristics and risk factors of polycystic ovarian syndrome among nursing students

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition that occurs in women and is associated with problems such as menstrual irregularities; hirsutism; obesity; insulin resistance; acne; and later life with diabetes mellitus and uterine cancer. The study aim was to assess phenotype characteristics and risk factors of polycystic ovarian syndrome among nursing students. Cross sectional study (descriptive) included a sample of 400 females from Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt.Tools were used for data collection; structured-interviewing questionnaire sheet, data related to anthropometric measures, risk factors about PCOS and observational check list about phenotype characteristics of PCO. The results showed that, (6%) of the studied student females had family history of PCO, nearly half of them had fast food, more than half of studied student females had hirsutism, more than one quarter had acne, (14.5%) had menstrual irregularity and one third of them had continuous abnormal weight gain. Also, this study showed that lack of awareness were found among majority of girls about PCOS. Therefore, it could be concluded that, family history of PCOS, obesity and fast food diet habits are found to be the predisposing factors for development of PCOS. The risk of PCOS increases with presence of one or more identified predisposing factors. Most of the factors tested as predisposing factors in our study are interlinked to each other and are mostly modifiable Although that PCOS is prevalent endocrine disorder, there was poor knowledge among student females in Faculty of Nursing Zagazig University. The study recommended screening program from ministry of health for early detection of predisposing factors of PCOS including the secondary school students and faculties students through educational programs and messages through the counseling, brochures, to increase student's awareness about PCOS symptoms. Further research on larger sample size to identify how the problem is risky and how to deal it. Including the problem in social media and healthy channels. K

Present status of understanding on the genetic etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age with a prevalence of approximately 7-10% worldwide. PCOS reflects multiple potential aetiologies and variable clinical manifestations. This syndrome is characterized by serious health implications such as diabetes, coronary heart diseases and cancer and also leads to infertility. PCOS can be viewed as a heterogeneous androgen excess disorder with varying degrees of reproductive and metabolic abnormalities determined by the interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors. In this paper, we have attempted a comprehensive review of primarily molecular genetic studies done so far on PCOS. We have also covered the studies focusing on the environmental factors and impact of ethnicity on the presentation of this syndrome. A large number of studies have been attempted to understand the aetiological mechanisms behind PCOS both at the clinical and molecular genetic levels. In the Indian context, majority of the PCOS studies have been confined to the clinical dimensions. However, a concrete genetic mechanism behind the manifestation of PCOS is yet to be ascertained. Understanding of this complex disorder requires comprehensive studies incorporating relatively larger homogenous samples for genetic analysis and taking into account the ethnicity and the environmental conditions of the population/cohort under study. Research focused on these aspects may provide better understanding on the genetic etiology and the interaction between genes and environment, which may help develop new treatment methods and possible prevention of the syndrome.