Influence of ethnicity on different aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to assess variations in the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) belonging to different ethnicities. A search was performed for studies comparing various clinical aspects of PCOS in two or more different ethnic groups. After screening 2264 studies, 35 articles were included in the final analysis. In comparison with White women with PCOS (wPCOS), East Asian women with PCOS (eaPCOS) were less hirsute, whereas Hispanic women with PCOS (hPCOS), South Asian women with PCOS (saPCOS) and Middle Eastern women with PCOS (mePCOS) were more hirsute. saPCOS had higher androgen and lower sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations, mePCOS had higher DHEAS concentrations, and hPCOS and Black women with PCOS (bPCOS) had lower SHBG and DHEAS measures than wPCOS. Menstrual disturbances were more frequent in eaPCOS. Both saPCOS and eaPCOS had lower body mass index with increased central adiposity. hPCOS and bPCOS were more obese. saPCOS, mePCOS, hPCOS and bPCOS had a higher prevalence of insulin resistance than wPCOS. bPCOS had a better lipid profile but higher blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Indigenous Australian women with PCOS were more obese and more insulin resistant with higher androgen concentrations. The clinical phenotype of PCOS therefore shows a wide variation depending on ethnicity.