Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common gynecological endocrinopathies in women of reproductive age in the Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of and examined the factors associated with PCOS status among femal...
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| Language: | English |
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Mary Ann Liebert
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Women's Health Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2023.0176 |
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| author | Fay Alkhezi Nourah AlNemash Joud AlMutairi Sarah Saleh Mariam AlMutairi Shahad Saleh Saeed Akhtar |
| author_facet | Fay Alkhezi Nourah AlNemash Joud AlMutairi Sarah Saleh Mariam AlMutairi Shahad Saleh Saeed Akhtar |
| author_sort | Fay Alkhezi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common gynecological endocrinopathies in women of reproductive age in the Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of and examined the factors associated with PCOS status among female university students of health sciences in Kuwait. Methods: During January 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted among female students, enrolled in any of the five colleges (i.e., Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences) of Kuwait University. Data were collected using a structured e-questionnaire administered through social media platforms. The prevalence (%) of physician-diagnosed PCOS was computed. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to compute the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the factors significantly associated with PCOS status. Results: Of the 588 participants, most were Kuwaiti (86.5%), single (95.6%), and 21–24 years old (59.3%). The prevalence of PCOS was 16.3% (96/588). The risk factors significantly associated with PCOS status were hyperprolactinemia (aOR = 7.67; 95% CI: 3.72–15.83), menstrual irregularities (aOR = 5.12; 95% CI: 2.32–11.31), family history of PCOS (aOR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.93– 6.29), hirsutism (aOR = 3.58; 95% CI: 2.06–6.21), and male pattern baldness (aOR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.19–3.58). Conclusions: This study showed moderately high prevalence of PCOS. Hyperprolactinemia, menstrual irregularities, family history of PCOS, hirsutism and baldness were significantly associated with PCOS status in the study sample. Imparting awareness and early diagnosis may help minimize PCOS burden in this and other similar settings in the region. If implemented, future studies may look at the impact of such efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e80e565c41b9419abeab63ef33662ce6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2688-4844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Women's Health Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e80e565c41b9419abeab63ef33662ce62025-08-20T01:49:57ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442024-04-015157958710.1089/whr.2023.0176Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern CountryFay Alkhezi0Nourah AlNemash1Joud AlMutairi2Sarah Saleh3Mariam AlMutairi4Shahad Saleh5Saeed Akhtar6Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common gynecological endocrinopathies in women of reproductive age in the Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of and examined the factors associated with PCOS status among female university students of health sciences in Kuwait. Methods: During January 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted among female students, enrolled in any of the five colleges (i.e., Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences) of Kuwait University. Data were collected using a structured e-questionnaire administered through social media platforms. The prevalence (%) of physician-diagnosed PCOS was computed. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to compute the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the factors significantly associated with PCOS status. Results: Of the 588 participants, most were Kuwaiti (86.5%), single (95.6%), and 21–24 years old (59.3%). The prevalence of PCOS was 16.3% (96/588). The risk factors significantly associated with PCOS status were hyperprolactinemia (aOR = 7.67; 95% CI: 3.72–15.83), menstrual irregularities (aOR = 5.12; 95% CI: 2.32–11.31), family history of PCOS (aOR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.93– 6.29), hirsutism (aOR = 3.58; 95% CI: 2.06–6.21), and male pattern baldness (aOR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.19–3.58). Conclusions: This study showed moderately high prevalence of PCOS. Hyperprolactinemia, menstrual irregularities, family history of PCOS, hirsutism and baldness were significantly associated with PCOS status in the study sample. Imparting awareness and early diagnosis may help minimize PCOS burden in this and other similar settings in the region. If implemented, future studies may look at the impact of such efforts.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2023.0176polycystic ovary syndromeprevalencerisk factorsyoung adult university students |
| spellingShingle | Fay Alkhezi Nourah AlNemash Joud AlMutairi Sarah Saleh Mariam AlMutairi Shahad Saleh Saeed Akhtar Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country Women's Health Reports polycystic ovary syndrome prevalence risk factors young adult university students |
| title | Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country |
| title_full | Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country |
| title_short | Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Among Female University Students of Health Sciences in a Middle Eastern Country |
| title_sort | prevalence of and risk factors associated with polycystic ovary syndrome among female university students of health sciences in a middle eastern country |
| topic | polycystic ovary syndrome prevalence risk factors young adult university students |
| url | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2023.0176 |
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