Abstract
BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent female endocrinopathy. Although increased cardiovascular risk factors are well established for the syndrome, PCOS remains overlooked within the realm of cardiology. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the risk of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in women with PCOS to inform the 2023 International Evidence-Based PCOS Guideline. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted comparing the risk of clinical CVD events in women with and without PCOS. Medline (Ovid), PsycInfo (Ovid), EMBASE, All EBM (Ovid), and CINAHL were searched from January 1, 2017, until March 1, 2023, to update the 2018 PCOS Guideline. Pooled odds ratios (ORs), incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated. Twenty studies involving 1.06 million women (369 317 with PCOS and 692 963 without PCOS) were included. PCOS was associated with higher risk of composite CVD (OR, 1.68 [95% CI, 1.26-2.23]; I(2) = 71.0%), composite ischemic heart disease (OR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.07-2.05]; I(2) = 81.0%), myocardial infarction (OR, 2.50 [95% CI, 1.43-4.38]; I(2) = 83.3%), and stroke (OR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.20-2.44]; I(2) = 81.4%). The relationship with cardiovascular mortality was less clear (OR, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.53-2.69]; I(2) = 0%). Meta-analyses of IRRs support these findings. Results from pooled HRs were limited by the small number of studies and significant heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides evidence and highlights the importance of recognizing PCOS as a significant risk factor for CVD morbidity. The 2023 International Evidence-Based PCOS Guideline now recommends awareness of increased CVD risk and comprehensive risk assessment in PCOS to help mitigate the burden of CVD in this common and high-risk condition.