Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been associated with a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, the impact of OSAS on the PCOS symptom profile remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis, which informed the 2023 International Evidence-based PC...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nur K. Abdul Jafar, Afra Al Balushi, Anuradhaa Subramanian, Siang Ing Lee, Christie J. Bennett, Lisa J. Moran, Aya Mousa, Chau Thien Tay, Helena J. Teede, Darren R. Mansfield
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1532519/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849761857994227712
author Nur K. Abdul Jafar
Afra Al Balushi
Anuradhaa Subramanian
Siang Ing Lee
Christie J. Bennett
Lisa J. Moran
Aya Mousa
Chau Thien Tay
Helena J. Teede
Darren R. Mansfield
author_facet Nur K. Abdul Jafar
Afra Al Balushi
Anuradhaa Subramanian
Siang Ing Lee
Christie J. Bennett
Lisa J. Moran
Aya Mousa
Chau Thien Tay
Helena J. Teede
Darren R. Mansfield
author_sort Nur K. Abdul Jafar
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been associated with a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, the impact of OSAS on the PCOS symptom profile remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis, which informed the 2023 International Evidence-based PCOS Guideline, aims to assess the prevalence and related symptoms of OSAS among females with and without PCOS.MethodsA systematic search using databases (MEDLINE, Embase, EBM Reviews, PsycInfo and CINAHL) was performed until 16th May 2024. Random-effects restricted maximum likelihood meta-analyses compared OSAS and related symptoms between PCOS and non-PCOS groups. OSAS outcomes were categorized as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥5 only, AHI≥5 with symptoms, AHI≥10 with symptoms and composite OSA (i.e., all AHI cut-offs with and/or without symptoms). Subgroup analyses by body mass index (BMI), age, PCOS diagnostic criteria and ethnicity were performed. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework were conducted.ResultsFrom 4438 records, 3205 titles/abstracts were screened and 40 were eligible for full-text screening. Eight cross-sectional studies met inclusion criteria and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of OSA was 37.0% in PCOS (29.0% adolescents; 40.0% adults) and 6.0% in non-PCOS. Compared with non-PCOS, those with PCOS showed higher risk for composite OSA (odds ratio (OR): 9.52; 95% CI: 3.90 to 23.26; I2 = 54.5%; 8 studies, n=942; P<0.001) and more pronounced OSAS risk with increasing symptom severity in PCOS (AHI≥5 OR: 3.90; 95% CI: 1.63 to 9.34; AHI≥5 with symptoms OR: 17.95; 95% CI: 6.17 to 52.22; AHI≥10 with symptoms OR: 30.61; 95% CI: 7.99 to 117.25, all P ≤ 0.0023). Subgroup results showed significantly higher risk of OSAS overall in overweight/obesity, adults and white ethnicity compared with normal weight, adolescent and Asian subgroups, respectively (all P<0.001), but independent of PCOS diagnostic criteria.ConclusionThe prevalence of OSA was higher in PCOS compared with non-PCOS groups, with the risk of OSAS increasing with worse symptom severity. Adults and those of higher BMI and of white ethnicity were at increased risk of OSAS. Hence, identifying and treating OSAS symptoms in PCOS may be beneficial, but further validation of findings is warranted.
format Article
id doaj-art-e6275dfb1d8744f6917b4e60b7a943e9
institution DOAJ
issn 1664-2392
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-e6275dfb1d8744f6917b4e60b7a943e92025-08-20T03:05:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-04-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15325191532519Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysisNur K. Abdul Jafar0Afra Al Balushi1Anuradhaa Subramanian2Siang Ing Lee3Christie J. Bennett4Lisa J. Moran5Aya Mousa6Chau Thien Tay7Helena J. Teede8Darren R. Mansfield9Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United KingdomDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United KingdomBe Active Sleep and Eat (BASE) Facility, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaMonash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, AustraliaBackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been associated with a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, the impact of OSAS on the PCOS symptom profile remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis, which informed the 2023 International Evidence-based PCOS Guideline, aims to assess the prevalence and related symptoms of OSAS among females with and without PCOS.MethodsA systematic search using databases (MEDLINE, Embase, EBM Reviews, PsycInfo and CINAHL) was performed until 16th May 2024. Random-effects restricted maximum likelihood meta-analyses compared OSAS and related symptoms between PCOS and non-PCOS groups. OSAS outcomes were categorized as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥5 only, AHI≥5 with symptoms, AHI≥10 with symptoms and composite OSA (i.e., all AHI cut-offs with and/or without symptoms). Subgroup analyses by body mass index (BMI), age, PCOS diagnostic criteria and ethnicity were performed. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework were conducted.ResultsFrom 4438 records, 3205 titles/abstracts were screened and 40 were eligible for full-text screening. Eight cross-sectional studies met inclusion criteria and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of OSA was 37.0% in PCOS (29.0% adolescents; 40.0% adults) and 6.0% in non-PCOS. Compared with non-PCOS, those with PCOS showed higher risk for composite OSA (odds ratio (OR): 9.52; 95% CI: 3.90 to 23.26; I2 = 54.5%; 8 studies, n=942; P<0.001) and more pronounced OSAS risk with increasing symptom severity in PCOS (AHI≥5 OR: 3.90; 95% CI: 1.63 to 9.34; AHI≥5 with symptoms OR: 17.95; 95% CI: 6.17 to 52.22; AHI≥10 with symptoms OR: 30.61; 95% CI: 7.99 to 117.25, all P ≤ 0.0023). Subgroup results showed significantly higher risk of OSAS overall in overweight/obesity, adults and white ethnicity compared with normal weight, adolescent and Asian subgroups, respectively (all P<0.001), but independent of PCOS diagnostic criteria.ConclusionThe prevalence of OSA was higher in PCOS compared with non-PCOS groups, with the risk of OSAS increasing with worse symptom severity. Adults and those of higher BMI and of white ethnicity were at increased risk of OSAS. Hence, identifying and treating OSAS symptoms in PCOS may be beneficial, but further validation of findings is warranted.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1532519/fullpolycystic ovary syndromeobstructive sleep apnea syndromeOSASsystematic reviewmeta-analysis
spellingShingle Nur K. Abdul Jafar
Afra Al Balushi
Anuradhaa Subramanian
Siang Ing Lee
Christie J. Bennett
Lisa J. Moran
Aya Mousa
Chau Thien Tay
Helena J. Teede
Darren R. Mansfield
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Endocrinology
polycystic ovary syndrome
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
OSAS
systematic review
meta-analysis
title Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome a systematic review and meta analysis
topic polycystic ovary syndrome
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
OSAS
systematic review
meta-analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1532519/full
work_keys_str_mv AT nurkabduljafar obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT afraalbalushi obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT anuradhaasubramanian obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT sianginglee obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT christiejbennett obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT lisajmoran obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT ayamousa obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT chauthientay obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT helenajteede obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT darrenrmansfield obstructivesleepapneasyndromeinpolycysticovarysyndromeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis