The pressing need for standardization in epidemiologic studies of PCOS across the globe

Abstract

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and important complex endocrine metabolic disorder affecting women mainly in the reproductive age. The prevalence of the disorder varies depending on the epidemiologic design and criterion used to study the disease. This variation in methodology and subsequent effect on epidemiologic estimate makes it difficult to compare prevalences and phenotypes across geographical areas and assess the effect of cultural and racial variations on PCOS phenotypes. Overall, there is an urgent need for a globally accepted standardized protocol for epidemiologic studies of PCOS, which will maximize the comparability of studies around the globe. To address this issue the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society, Inc. has designated an expert Task Force to draft recommendations to guide epidemiologic research worldwide. Once completed, the use of such recommendations will enable epidemiologists to the effects of geographical and cultural variations of PCOS prevalence and assist in determining the phenotype–genotype associations in the disorder. Further, it will assist in developing informed, and thus effective, public health policy. In essence, the need to standardize epidemiologic studies across the globe is pressing and urgent.

摘要

多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是一种常见且重要的复杂内分泌代谢紊乱疾病, 主要影响育龄期女性。该疾病的患病率取决于研究该疾病的流行病学设计和标准。方法学的变化以及对流行病学估计的相继影响使得难以比较不同地理区域的患病率和表型, 也难以评估文化和种族差异对PCOS表型的影响。总而言之, 全球迫切需要公认标准的PCOS流行病学研究方案, 这将最大限度地提高全球研究的可比性。为了解决此问题, 雄激素过量和PCOS 协会已经指定了一个专家工作组来起草指导全球PCOS流行病学研究的建议。一旦完成, 这些建议将使流行病学家能够了解地理和文化差异对PCOS患病率的影响, 并有助于确定疾病中的表型 - 基因型关联。此外, 它将有助于制定知情, 有效的公共卫生政策。从本质上讲, 全球PCOS流行病学研究标准化的必要性迫在眉睫。

Keywords:

• PCOS
• epidemiology
• prevalence
• hirsutism
• androgen excess

Disclosure statement

R. A. consults for Ansh Labs, Longitude Capital, Spruce Biosciences, and Medtronics. He serves on the advisory board of Martin PET Imaging. No potential conflicts of interest was reported for any of the remaining authors.