International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dey P. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jul;7(7):2586-2589

www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20182447
Original Research Article

Quality of life of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Prabha Dey*

Principal, College of Nursing, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

Received: 23 May 2018

Accepted: 26 May 2018

*Correspondence:
Dr. Prabha Dey,
E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as hyper androgenic anovolation (HA or Stein-
Leventhal syndrome) is a well-recognised and common condition that causes considerable morbidity. The objective
of the present study was to find out the quality of life of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Methods: Patients with PCOD diagnosed clinically at out patients department were selected for the study. SF 36 was
applied to find out the Quality of life of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Results: A total of 84 patients were participated and 75% of the sample were student, 56.7% were graduate and
86.7% were non-vegetarian. The mean height of the sample was 155±4.81 centimeters. The mean weight of sample
was 59.35±6.63 kgs and BMI mean was 24.70±3.47. Among 35% the duration of diagnosis was less than one year
and for 65% it was more than one year. Means of the all sub set scores, across shorter and longer duration of being
diagnosed as PCOD were significantly same on t test.
Conclusions: Measured by SF 36, women with poly cystic ovarian disease/symptoms are suffering from significantly
lowered quality of life, but independent of their duration of illness.

Keywords: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOD, Quality of life

INTRODUCTION increasing evidence that these women are also at

increased risk later in life for cardiovascular and
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as hyper metabolic disease, early treatment may prevent disease
androgenic anovolation (HA or Stein-Leventhal progression.5
syndrome) is a well-recognised and common condition
that causes considerable morbidity. Barry et al, conducted a systematic review and meta-
analysis and revealed higher and anxiety and depression
It comprises a group of signs and symptoms like scores in the participants with PCOS, whereas lower BMI
anovolation (oligoamenorrhea or amenorrhoea) and tended to have slightly lower anxiety and depression
hyperandrogenism (usually hirsutism, acne, and scores.6
sometimes alopecia.1 It can lead to significant reduction
in the quality of life, infertility can cause the tension With the assumption, that the quality of life affected by a
within the family, altered self-perception, and problem at polycystic ovary, and quality of life depends on various
work.2-4 other factors like age, occupation, support system and
severity of illness; we plan this study to identify the level
PCOS is frequently diagnosed during adolescence and of quality of life related to physical and psychological
may be increasing in prevalence secondary to the recent health among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
trend of increasing obesity among teenagers. There is (PCOS).

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METHODS 56.7% was graduate and 61.7% of sample was belonging

to nuclear family and 86.7% were non-vegetarian.
The present study was conducted in selected institutions
of SOA University area of, Bhubaneswar. For the Table 1: Description of samples according to socio-
research study, the research problem was approved by the demographic variables.
research committee. Prior permission was obtained from
our dean of SUM Nursing College, Khandagiri, Sample Characteristics Frequency Percent
Bhubaneswar, Odisha. All consenting patients diagnosed < 20 yrs 18 30.0
as PCOD, by treating gynecologist attending OPD were 21-25 yrs 12 20.0
Age (years)
included for the study. The investigator conducted face to 26-30 yrs 19 31.7
face interview with the subjects in the study area by using 31-35 yrs 11 18.3
the structured interview schedule. Interview will be Student 45 75.0
Occupation
conducted between 9am-5pm depending upon the Employed 15 25.0
availability of subjects. Individual participant had the Up to high school 10 16.7
right to walk away from the study without assigning any Education Intermediate 7 11.7
reason to the investigator. The anonymity of the status Graduate 34 56.7
participants was ensured, and confidentiality of the data Post graduate 9 15.0
was maintained. Types of Nuclear family 37 61.7
family Joint family 23 38.3
Tools Types of Vegetarian 8 13.3
diet Non- vegetarian 52 86.7
Health related quality of life (HRQoL) One year 21 35.0
Years since
2-3 years 26 43.3
diagnosed
It is a multidimensional, questionnaires that encompasses 4-5 years 6 10.0
PCOD
physical, psychological and social aspect that associate >5 years 7 11.7
with the particular disease or its treatment.7,8 There are Less than normal 14 23.3
generic questionnaires exist to measure HRQoL, such as Problems Long duration 25 41.7
associated Excessive cyclic
the SF-36, it includes “Physical Function (PH), Bodily 17 28.3
with bleeding
Pain (BP), Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF) Role
menstrual Excessive
Emotion (RE),and Mental Health (MH)”, they may not be
cycle Interamenstrual 4 6.7
sensitive enough to measure the changes in specific
bleeding
illness as they were designed to measure health status
One category of
across a wide variety of disease.9 Problems
problem
47 78.3
associated
More than one
There were 25 questions of SF-36 health status with 21.7
category of 13
questionnaire followed with six domains such as physical beauty*
problem
function consists of 10, bodily pain 2, vitality 4, social *Acne (pimples on the face), Alopecia (loss of hair), Hirsutism,
function 2, role emotion 3 and mental health 4 questions. Excessive weight gain.
Scoring was done with Likert scale as ‘0= not at all, 1=
rarely, 2= often, and 3 = always.
The BMI of the sample was calculated, and it was
Statistical analysis overweight for 48.3% and normal weight for remaining
51.7%. The duration of diagnosis as PCOD was less than
The data was analysed by using descriptive statistics like one year was 35% and more than one year was remaining
frequency distribution, percentage, Mean and standard 65% (2-3 years = 43.3%, 4-5 years = 10%, and above five
deviation and Karl Pearson’s coefficient correlation and years it was 11.7%). Problems associated with menstrual
inferential statistics like Chi squire test to find the cycle, such as Less than normal bleeding was found
association of health-related questionnaires with socio- among 23.3%, whereas long duration haven’t menstrual
demographic variables and practice with socio- cycle was 41.7%, excessive cyclic bleeding was 28.3%
demographic variables. and excessive Interamenstrual bleeding was 6.7% (Table
1).
RESULTS
Table 2: Mean and range of clinical variables of
A total of 84 patients were included for the study, the complete sample.
categorical distribution of socio demographic variables Min Max Mean±SD
has been shown in Table 1. The Age category was Height (cm) 150.00 162.00 155±4.81
maximum 31.7% for 26-31 years age range, Height (m) 1.50 1.62 1.55±0.04
occupationally 75% of the sample was student and Weight (kg) 50.00 66.00 59.36±6.63
remainder 25% were employed. Most of the sample BMI (kg/m2) 19.10 29.30 24.70±3.47

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 Dey P. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jul;7(7):2586-2589

The mean height of the sample was 155±4.81 cm. The consisted upto one year (n=21) and longer duration
mean weight of sample was 59.35±6.63 kgs and BMI defined as more than one year (n=39). Means of the all
mean was 24.70±3.47 (kg/m2) (Table 2). sub set scoring across in between shorter and longer
duration of being diagnosed as PCOD. The both groups
For the comparison of SF 36 subset across shorter and showed compromised QOL but there was there was no
longer duration of PCOD diagnosis, the shorter duration statistically significant difference (Table 3).

Table 3: Comparison of SF 36 subset across shorter and longer duration of PCOD diagnosis.

Years of diagnosis Mean±SD t df p value

Over one year (39) 21.30±4.04
Physical function -0.484 58 0.630
Upto one year (21) 21.80±3.37
Over one year (39) 3.23±2.00
Bodily pain -0.828 58 0.411
Upto one year (21) 3.66±1.82
Over one year (39) 5.33±2.74
Vitality -0.840 58 0.404
Upto one year (21) 6.00±3.25
Over one year (39) 2.71±1.46
Social functioning -0.217 58 0.829
Upto one year (21) 2.80±1.72
Over one year (39) 4.92±2.06
Role emotion 0.031 58 0.975
Upto one year (21) 4.90±2.40
Over one year (39) 5.05±1.63
Mental health -1.079 58 0.285
Upto one year (21) 5.76±3.47

DISCUSSION very low to a maximum possible score of 75 that is equal

to 57.8%. However, when grouped as shorter as up to one
Existing research should be reviewed and analyzed with year and long duration since diagnosis that is more than
special reference to the knowledge and practice regarding one year, the both groups were age, height, weight and
PCOS and prevention of complication among women. BMI matched, the both groups were assessed across all
Future studies on this aspect will help to identify the domains of health-related quality of life, including
common myths that the people are having regarding vitality (VT), mental health (MH), social functioning
cultural taboos related to PCOS. Research studies can be (SF), bodily pain (BP) and general health perception
conducted to rule out the various misconceptions of the (GH). In the present study, women with PCOS had lower
peoples regarding PCOD. Nursing research will help to scores in five domains of health-related quality of life, of
know the nurse role in developing the practice related to which 3 domains (vitality, mental health, social
PCOD prevention among young women. functioning) were related to mental aspect of health-
related quality of life; it seems that, similar to results of
However, present results differ from studies conducted previous studies, the mental health domain of SF 36 was
mostly in western countries, showing a positive affected more than the physical domain.13,14
association between excess weight and reduction in the
mental aspects of HRQOL.10,11 Given that cultural and Since socio-demographic factors among women with
social circumstances constitute the concept of ideal body PCOS and controls were comparable; it could be
weight, the differences observed in our results could be concluded that features associated with PCOS result in
explained by the variations between Eastern and Western decrease in the HRQOL of these women. Results of the
cultures.12 current study demonstrated that consequences of excess
weight on the physical aspects of HRQOL varied
Nursing administration should promote the necessary between women with PCOS and healthy controls, results
facilities and opportunity for nursing staff to equip in agreement with those of a study that reported co
themselves with the knowledge of PCOD and its morbidity of obesity had a greater impact on HRQOL.15
prevention. The nursing administration should support
the conduction and participation of the nursing staff in With early diagnosis and adequate information,
various types of continuing education related to individuals can prevent serious complications and
gynecological nursing and its prevention to enhance the minimize the distressing symptoms that accompany
nursing skill and knowledge in the area. PCOS. However, in this index study there was no
difference were found in lower QoL in between longer
Present study showed that women with PCOS, generally and shorter duration of illness (Table 3).
scored quite low on HRQOL, a mean score of 43.4 is

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With the great prevalence of PCOS, and the lack of 7. Naughton MJ, McBee WL. Health‐related quality of
knowledge in the population, many women are set up to life after hysterectomy. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1997;
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complained that they have received "less than optimal" Steege JF. A health‐related quality of life instrument
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CONCLUSION and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary
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Women with poly cystic ovarian disease / symptoms are 11. Kozak AT, Daviglus ML, Chan C, Kiefe C, Jacobs
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Funding: No funding sources 2011;35(1):134-41.
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Ethical approval: The study was approved by the energy. Nutr Rev. 2001;59(1):5-s12.
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