# Clinical Profile of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Women From Bhimavaram: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study examines the clinical features and prevalence of PCOS in women from Bhimavaram, India, highlighting common symptoms and challenges in treatment adherence.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed clinical profile and phenotype distribution of PCOS in a specific Indian population.

## Key findings

- Phenotype C was the most prevalent among PCOS cases, followed by D, A, and B.
- Common symptoms included oligomenorrhoea, acne, and hirsutism, with many women being overweight or obese.
- Therapeutic adherence was a significant challenge in managing PCOS effectively.

## Abstract

Introduction

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrinological dysfunction that affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Despite its high prevalence, variations in phenotypic presentation and associated risk factors remain underexplored. The study aims to identify the prevalence, biochemical, clinical, and hormonal features of PCOS women, emphasizing phenotype classification and therapeutic interventions.

Methods

This cross-sectional, prospective multi-centre study was conducted in outpatient gynaecology clinics in Bhimavaram, India, from July 2019 to December 2023. Participants were diagnosed based on the Rotterdam criteria and classified into phenotypes A, B, C, and D. Data on socio-demographics, clinical manifestations, hormonal profiles, and treatment adherence were collected and analysed using Epi Info (version 7.2.6.0; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA). Associations between phenotypes and metabolic profiles were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests.

Results

Among the study population, 403 (8.02%) were diagnosed with PCOS, with phenotype C in 139 (40.76%) being the most prevalent, followed by phenotypes D (n=90, 26.39%), A (n=89, 26.10%), and B (n=23, 6.74%), respectively. Oligomenorrhoea was a frequent menstrual disturbance found in 145 women (42.52%). Acne was experienced by 191 participants (56.01%), and hirsutism was seen in 182 (53.32%), signifying them as common hyperandrogenic symptoms. It is also noted that a significant proportion of the study population was overweight or obese (n=162, 47.5%). Anaemia was observed in 268 participants (78.6%), while 71 (20.82%) women had hypothyroidism, and 14 (4.11%) were diabetic. Therapeutic management included clomiphene citrate, hormonal contraceptives, and metformin. However, adherence remained a key challenge in achieving therapeutic success.

Conclusion

With the increase in the prevalence rate, early diagnosis and lifestyle modifications are required to prevent long-term complications in women. Additionally, risk factors identified in this study can be modified with appropriate interventions and preventive measures.