Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Quality in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in women of reproductive age. Although PCOS patients have a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), there is limited data on sleep quality and abnormalities in sleep architecture among this patient population. We conducted a study to assess the frequency of OSA and poor sleep quality in women with PCOS and to assess any association between these sleep disorders and metabolic abnormalities. Materials and methods: An observational study of adults with PCOS (by revised Rotterdam criteria) from May 2015 to June 2017 was conducted. Patients with thyroid disorders, pre-existing depression, current pregnancy, and recent drug use (benzodiazepines, antidiabetics, antiepileptics, steroids, and androgens) were excluded. The evaluations included the following overnight polysomnography (PSG), lipid profile, testosterone, fasting insulin, fasting glucose levels, free androgen index (FAI), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS)], daytime sleepiness and possible depression were assessed by standard questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, t-test/Mann朩hitney test, Chi-squared test/Fischer's test were used as appropriate; p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 65 patients, mean age 24.3 � 4.0 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 26.4 � 5.3 kg/m2 were included. Frequencies of sleep disorders were evaluated as follows Obstructive sleep apnea 10.9% (7/64) [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.4�.9%], poor sleep quality 35.0% (21/60) (95% CI 24.2�.6%) by JSS, 54.2% (32/59) (95% CI 41.6�.3%) by PSQI. The PSG indicators of sleep quality were abnormal in arousal index, 96.8% (62); %wake time, 62.5% (40); sleep latency, 40.6% (26); and sleep efficiency, 12.5% (8). Anthropometric indicators of obesity were higher in OSA vs non-OSA patients (p <0.05). The OSA patients had lower total sleep time and %N2 stage, and higher desaturation index than non-OSA patients. When patients with good and poor sleep quality were compared, poor sleepers (by JSS and PSQI) had higher depression scores; poor sleepers by JSS had a lower waist杊ip ratio (p <0.05). Daytime sleepiness scores were similar in OSA and non-OSA patients, and in good and poor sleepers. Conclusion: Sleep disorders, particularly poor sleep quality, are frequent in women with PCOS. Patients should be screened for these disorders using specific questionnaires. Further research into the metabolic consequences of these sleep disorders is mandated.