Effect of 12-month treatment with metformin and/or oral contraceptives on health-related quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome. (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Altinok, Magda Lambaa; Ravn, Pernille; Andersen, Marianne; Glintborg, Dorte
• Is Part Of: Gynecological endocrinology. Volume 34:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 859
• Page End: 863
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: PCOS -- health-related quality of life -- metformin -- oral contraceptives; Endocrine gynecology -- Periodicals; Generative organs, Female -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.1
• DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2018.1460343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-3590

Abstract

Abstract: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the effect of treatment with metformin (M) and/or oral contraceptives (OCP) is undetermined. To assess changes in HRQoL during 12-month randomized treatment with M, OCP or M + OCP in PCOS. Ninety women with PCOS were randomized to treatment with M, OCP or M + OCP. HRQoL was evaluated by a PCOS-specific visual analog scale (PCOS-VAS) regarding 1: Facial hair, 2: Body hair, 3: Acne, 4: Irregular menses, 5: Weight and 6: PCOS in general, and Short Form 36 (SF-36). PCOS-VAS1(facial hair) improved during treatment with OCP ( n = 23) compared to M ( n = 19), and during M + OCP ( n = 23) compared to M treatment, whereas changes in PCOS-VAS2-6 and SF-36 scores were comparable between the three medical intervention groups. Pooled data ( n = 65) showed improved PCOS-VAS scores during treatment (all p < .05), but changes in PCOS-VAS were unassociated with changes in BMI or FG-scores despite significant weight-loss during treatment with M (−3.0 kg (−10.3; 0.6)) and M + OCP (−1.9 kg (−4.9; 0.1)) and decreased FG-score during M + OCP treatment (median (quartiles)). PCOS-VAS scores improved significantly and to the same extent during treatment with M, OCP or M + OCP.