Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects 8 to 13% of Australian reproductive-aged women and is a major public health concern. Whilst reproductive features (anovulation, infertility) are prominent, PCOS also has major metabolic [obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular disease risk factors] and psychological features.
Obesity is a major chronic disease, with rising prevalence and diverse health impacts. The interplay between PCOS and weight contributes to the long-term consequences of PCOS, but is not well understood. Women with PCOS demonstrate insulin resistance, which leads to adverse health consequences, both independent of and exacerbated by obesity. Women with PCOS were more insulin resistant than body mass index (BMI)-matched controls on euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp studies. Insulin resistance was present in 75% of lean women with PCOS, 62% of overweight controls and 95% of overweight women with PCOS.
There is a lack of community-based studies exploring the natural history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) is a large community-based prospective study, which has collected data from approximately 9000 reproductive-aged women at seven time points over 19 years. The Raine cohort from Western Australia included 2868 pregnant women with ongoing long-term family follow-up. It is one of the largest successful prospective cohorts of childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy in the world, with 80% of participants still active and 11 time points over 26 years with clinical data, bloods and imaging. Reproductive, metabolic and psychological outcomes will be presented from both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of the above datasets.