Obstructive sleep apnoea and polycystic ovary syndrome: a comprehensive review of clinical interactions and underlying pathophysiology

Hassan Kahal, Ioannis Kyrou, Abd A. Tahrani, Harpal S. Randeva*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. PCOS is associated with multiple comorbidities including, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, as well as mood disorders and impaired quality of life (QoL). Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is also a common medical condition that is often undiagnosed, particularly in women. OSA is associated with a similar spectrum of comorbidities to that observed in PCOS, including manifestations of the metabolic syndrome and impaired QoL, whilst obesity frequently constitutes a common denominator in the pathophysiology of both OSA and PCOS. Hence, it is not surprising that OSA and PCOS may coexist in women of reproductive age, and the current clinical guidelines on the management of PCOS recommend screening for OSA symptoms in overweight/obese women with PCOS. In this review, we examine the relationship between OSA and PCOS and explore the potential underlying mechanisms that link these two conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)313-319
JournalClinical Endocrinology
Volume87
Issue number4
Early online date22 Jun 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

Keywords

  • hyperandrogenism
  • insulin resistance
  • obesity
  • obstructive sleep apnoea
  • polycystic ovary syndrome

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