Association between maternal polycystic ovary syndrome and early childhood growth: a continuous observation from 3months to 6years of age.

Abstract

To investigate whether maternal PCOS could impact growth and development in offspring at an early age through continuous observation from age 3months to 6years. This prospective study was conducted in 198 children born to mothers with PCOS and 227 children born to healthy mothers in Ningbo (Zhejiang Province, China) between October 2012 and July 2015. Measurements of offspring height, weight, head circumference, and teething were examined by trained professionals through age 6years. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance between the PCOS and control groups. Offspring born to women with PCOS showed significantly higher BMI at age 12, 18, and 30months and 5years (P = 0.040, P = 0.000, P = 0.000, and P = 0.023, respectively). Female offspring born to women with PCOS showed significantly increased body weight at 3, 8, 12, 18, and 30months, and 3 and 6years (P = 0.027, P = 0.008, P = 0.010, P = 0.034, P = 0.047, P = 0.040, and P = 0.035, respectively) and significantly higher BMI at 3, 8, 12, 18, and 30months (P = 0.009, P = 0.016, P = 0.029, P = 0.000, and P = 0.000, respectively). After adjusting for maternal, paternal, and pregnancy confounders, PCOS status presented significant associations with weight at age 3, 8, and 12months and 3years (P = 0.005, P = 0.004, P = 0.021, P = 0.035 respectively), and with BMI at age 3 and 8months (P = 0.011 and P = 0.014) in female offspring. Maternal PCOS is associated with an increased risk of developing obesity in female offspring.