The global prevalence of primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the global prevalence of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause (EM).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in several databases to retrieve relevant English articles published between 1980 and 2017. To assess the methodological quality of the studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used. The heterogeneity of results across the studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and quantified by the I² statistic. Prevalence estimates of all studies were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model at a confidence level of 95%.

Results: A total of 8937 potentially relevant articles were identified from the initial searches. Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of POI and EM was calculated as 3.7% (95% confidence interval: 3.1, 4.3) and 12.2% (95% confidence interval: 10.5, 14), respectively. The prevalence of POI was higher in medium and low Human Development Index countries. The prevalence trend did not change over time.

Conclusion: The prevalence of POI and EM in women is considerable. The results of this study could contribute to consciousness-raising of health policy-makers toward the necessity of prioritizing, planning, and allocating health resources as preventive and treatment interventions for these women.

摘要

目的：本研究的目的是评估早发性卵巢功能不全（POI）和早绝经（EM）的全球患病率。

方法：综合文献检索多个数据库, 检索1980年至2017年间发表的相关英文文章。为了评估研究的方法学质量, 采用了纽卡斯尔-渥太华量表。采用Cochran Q检验评估研究结果的异质性, 并采用I2统计进行量化。所有研究的患病率估计值采用随机效应meta分析模型汇总, 置信水平为95％。

结果：从初始检索中共确定了8937篇可能相关的文章, 其中31项研究符合纳入标准, 并纳入本meta分析。POI和EM的汇总患病率分别估计为3.7％（95％置信区间：3.1, 4.3）和12.2％（95％置信区间：10.5, 14）。人类发展指数中低的国家, POI患病率较高。患病率趋势并未随时间而改变。

结论：女性POI和EM的患病率是相当高的。本研究的结果可能有助于提高卫生政策制定者的意识, 使其有必要优先考虑、规划和分配卫生资源作为这些女性的预防和治疗干预措施。

Keywords:

• Prevalence
• primary ovarian insufficiency
• early menopause
• meta-analysis

Acknowledgements

The present study is part of a doctoral dissertation in the field of Reproductive Health approved by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The authors hereby thank the university officials.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Nil.