PCOS symptoms may be influenced by geographical and environmental factors

Incidence of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is increasing globally and is the most common cause of infertility. Women are diagnosed with PCOS if they have two of the following criteria: androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovaries.

Researchers have found in a new study that symptoms of Polycystic ovary syndrome may be influenced by geographical and environmental factorsy.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Alabama may be more likely to have excessive hair growth and insulin resistance, whereas women with PCOS in California may be more likely to have higher testosterone levels.

The new research has been published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

"Our study found geographical differences in PCOS in Black and white women, suggesting there are both genetic and environmental influences on how this disease manifests," said Margareta D. Pisarska, M.D., of Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Calif. "Ongoing research is needed to identify modifiable risk factors for PCOS that may be race and ethnicity-specific to bring precision medicine to the management of this disease."

The researchers compared data from 1,610 Black and white women with PCOS in Alabama and California. They found regional differences in the way these women met criteria for the diagnosis of PCOS and in symptoms associated with PCOS, with some variations among Black and white women.

Overall, there were many similarities among the races. Women with PCOS in Alabama were more likely to have excessive hair growth and insulin resistance, whereas women with PCOS in California were more likely to have higher levels of testosterone.

When comparing Black women with PCOS in Alabama and California, the average body mass index (BMI) did not differ between the locations, whereas in white women with PCOS, the average BMI was higher in Alabama than California.

"Since we have now identified that there are geo-epidemiologic differences, we intend to do follow up studies comparing black and white women with PCOS, controlling for geo-epidemiologic differences," Pisarska said. "Furthermore, we are trying to look at factors that are contributing to these differences in order to tailor treatments based on specific needs for improvements in care for all women with PCOS."

Reference:

Katherine VanHise, Jessica L Chan, Sahar Wertheimer, Roy G Handelsman, Ekaterina Clark, Rae Buttle, Erica T Wang, Ricardo Azziz, Margareta D Pisarska. Regional Variation in Hormonal and Metabolic Parameters of White and Black Women With PCOS in the United States. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2022; DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac515