Sleep disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2016 Dec;32(12):1014-1017. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2016.1196177. Epub 2016 Jun 27.

Abstract

Sleep disturbances in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have been reported in recent years. The majority of published studies are related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) while not many researches have analyzed any other causes of sleep disturbances. A group of ninety five women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome were enrolled into the study. Sleep disturbances were assessed using validated questionnaires. On the grounds of Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) evaluation a clinically significant insomnia was ascertained in 12.6% of women with PCOS, while according to Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) in 10.5%. Clinically significant insomnia according to both AIS and ISI, occurred significantly more often in women with PCOS than in women without PCOS based on the chi-square test. The Mann-Whitney U test revealed statistically significant difference between women with and without PCOS based on total values of ISI. An excessive daytime sleepiness occurred at 7.4% of women with PCOS. Statistically significant dependance between: clinically significant insomnia in both AIS and ISI and excessive daytime sleepiness indicated by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was observed. Sleep disorders are common in women with PCOS. Screening assessment of sleep disturbances should be a part of medical diagnostics in women with PCOS.

Keywords: Anxiety; PCOS; depression; sleep disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / epidemiology
  • Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / epidemiology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / etiology*
  • Young Adult