Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with negatively variable impacts on domains of health-related quality of life: evidence from a meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo systematically review the literature to identify the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on specific health-related quality of life domains.DesignMeta-analysis.SettingN/A.Patient(s)The outcomes of 423 patients and 285 controls from 5 articles that used the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire were used for meta-analysis.Intervention(s)N/A.Main Outcome Measure(s)The SF-36 dimensions including physical function, physical role function, body pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role function, and mental health were evaluated.Result(s)Compared with controls, women with PCOS had lower scores in all SF-36 dimensions: physical function (mean differences [MD], −5.46; 95% confidence intervals [CI], −8.52, −2.41), physical role function (MD, −5.76; 95% CI, −8.49, −3.03), body pain (MD, −4.55; 95% CI, −7.99, −1.11), general health (MD, −11.34; 95% CI, −19.53, −3.15), vitality (MD, −15.14; 95% CI, −17.43, −12.84), social function (MD, −15.95, 95% CI, −18.57, −13.33), emotional role function (MD, −23.86; 95% CI, −27.51, −20.21), and mental health (MD, −13.83; 95% CI, −16.13, −11.53).Conclusion(s)The meta-analysis showed that women with PCOS score lower in each dimension of the SF-36, mostly in the emotional role function.