Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders. Our study aimed to assess, for the first time, the phenotype prevalence and the health-related quality of life of Lebanese women with PCOS.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 322 Lebanese women with PCOS, using a questionnaire containing sociodemographic data, comorbidities, disease-related clinical questions, and the validated PCOS questionnaire (PCOSQ). The quality of life mean scores and phenotypes were compared and correlated among the different sociodemographic data, comorbidities, and disease-related questions.
Results: Phenotype A (67%) was the most common phenotype. High waist circumference and higher Body Mass Index (BMI) were reported mostly in classic phenotypes in comparison with nonclassic (P < .05). The mean total score of all PCOSQ domains was 3.61 ± 1.60. The mean score for each domain (from the greatest to the least serious concern) was menstrual problems (3.31 ± 1.26), emotion (3.33 ± 1.22), weight (3.41 ± 2.12), body hair (3.86 ± 1.79), and infertility (4.15 ± 1.61). Age was negatively correlated only to weight domain score (r = -0.17, P = .002). BMI was associated only with emotion and weight domain scores (P = .017 and P < .001, respectively). A bigger impairment in nearly all subscales of the PCOSQ in patients presenting with abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance, and increased blood pressure was noted (P < .05).
Conclusion: Most Lebanese women with PCOS present phenotype A and have a serious impairment in their health-related quality of life, particularly in the menstrual and emotional domains. This highlights the need for community and individual support.
Keywords: HRQoL; Lebanon; PCOSQ; Phenotype; health-related quality of life; polycystic ovary syndrome.
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