News | PCOS May Affect More Than Fertility and Could Be Linked to Childhood Illness Risk
A long-term study of more than one million children in Quebec, Canada, found that maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was associated with a significantly higher risk of infections, allergies, and several pediatric conditions before age 13. Published in Human Reproduction on July 14, 2022, it is among the largest and most comprehensive studies of PCOS and offspring health.
Led by Dr. Nathalie Auger, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Montreal School of Public Health, the team analyzed health data from 1,038,375 children born in Quebec between 2006 and 2020. Of these, 7,160 had mothers with PCOS.
Children of mothers with PCOS were 32% more likely to be hospitalized for health problems. Hospitalization risk was 31% higher for infections and 47% higher for allergic conditions such as asthma. Significant increases were also found in the following categories:
Respiratory disorders such as pneumonia: 32% higher
Mental and behavioral disorders: 68% higher
The study found no association between maternal PCOS and childhood cancer risk. Differences between boys and girls were not significant, suggesting that the increased risks applied to offspring of both sexes.
PCOS is a common ovarian disorder affecting about 10% of women of reproductive age. Features include irregular menstruation, elevated androgen levels that may cause excess hair growth, and multiple immature ovarian follicles. PCOS is often associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease and may also contribute to infertility, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and preterm birth. Its long-term effects on offspring health, however, have not been studied systematically.
Dr. Auger said: "Our study fills a major gap in understanding the long-term health of children born to mothers with PCOS. Primary care physicians and obstetricians should identify women with PCOS before conception and intervene early through measures such as weight management and prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pediatricians and family physicians may also reduce later illness risk by monitoring offspring more closely after birth."
Because the study was observational, it could not prove that PCOS directly causes health problems in offspring. Dr. Auger noted several possible mechanisms. Women with PCOS often have elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance, which may impair placental function, cause inflammation of membrane tissue, and worsen the fetal nutritional environment. This may affect fetal immune function and trigger mild systemic inflammation. Genetic factors and the intrauterine environment may also alter gene expression and influence fetal health.
The analysis accounted for potential confounders including maternal age, previous health conditions, smoking or alcohol use, use of assisted reproductive technology, preterm birth, multiple pregnancy, and socioeconomic status. These variables did not explain the significant association between maternal PCOS and illness in offspring.
The study's main strengths were its large sample and detailed analysis of many disease categories, including respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, digestive, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, central nervous system, ear, eye, and mental and behavioral conditions. Limitations included reliance on a Canadian hospitalization database, which captures more severe cases requiring hospital care but not undiagnosed mild conditions in children or mild PCOS in mothers.
"Next, we hope to study clinical outcomes during pregnancy among mothers with PCOS and their own long-term risk of illness," Dr. Auger said. "These women may face cardiovascular or metabolic disease in middle age, and we urgently need more epidemiological evidence to support their health management."
She added: "Further research is urgently needed to determine whether effectively managing maternal PCOS through exercise, diet, or medication can reduce illness risk and improve long-term health in offspring."
News | PCOS May Affect More Than Fertility and Could Be Linked to Childhood Illness Risk
News | PCOS May Affect More Than Fertility and Could Be Linked to Childhood Illness Risk
A long-term study of more than one million children in Quebec, Canada, found that maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was associated with a significantly higher risk of infections, allergies, and several pediatric conditions before age 13. Published in Human Reproduction on July 14, 2022, it is among the largest and most comprehensive studies of PCOS and offspring health.
Led by Dr. Nathalie Auger, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Montreal School of Public Health, the team analyzed health data from 1,038,375 children born in Quebec between 2006 and 2020. Of these, 7,160 had mothers with PCOS.
Children of mothers with PCOS were 32% more likely to be hospitalized for health problems. Hospitalization risk was 31% higher for infections and 47% higher for allergic conditions such as asthma. Significant increases were also found in the following categories:
Metabolic conditions: 59% higher hospitalization risk
Digestive disorders: 72% higher
Central nervous system disorders: 74% higher
Ear disorders: 34% higher
Respiratory disorders such as pneumonia: 32% higher
Mental and behavioral disorders: 68% higher
The study found no association between maternal PCOS and childhood cancer risk. Differences between boys and girls were not significant, suggesting that the increased risks applied to offspring of both sexes.
PCOS is a common ovarian disorder affecting about 10% of women of reproductive age. Features include irregular menstruation, elevated androgen levels that may cause excess hair growth, and multiple immature ovarian follicles. PCOS is often associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease and may also contribute to infertility, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and preterm birth. Its long-term effects on offspring health, however, have not been studied systematically.
Dr. Auger said: "Our study fills a major gap in understanding the long-term health of children born to mothers with PCOS. Primary care physicians and obstetricians should identify women with PCOS before conception and intervene early through measures such as weight management and prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pediatricians and family physicians may also reduce later illness risk by monitoring offspring more closely after birth."
Because the study was observational, it could not prove that PCOS directly causes health problems in offspring. Dr. Auger noted several possible mechanisms. Women with PCOS often have elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance, which may impair placental function, cause inflammation of membrane tissue, and worsen the fetal nutritional environment. This may affect fetal immune function and trigger mild systemic inflammation. Genetic factors and the intrauterine environment may also alter gene expression and influence fetal health.
The analysis accounted for potential confounders including maternal age, previous health conditions, smoking or alcohol use, use of assisted reproductive technology, preterm birth, multiple pregnancy, and socioeconomic status. These variables did not explain the significant association between maternal PCOS and illness in offspring.
The study's main strengths were its large sample and detailed analysis of many disease categories, including respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, digestive, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, central nervous system, ear, eye, and mental and behavioral conditions. Limitations included reliance on a Canadian hospitalization database, which captures more severe cases requiring hospital care but not undiagnosed mild conditions in children or mild PCOS in mothers.
"Next, we hope to study clinical outcomes during pregnancy among mothers with PCOS and their own long-term risk of illness," Dr. Auger said. "These women may face cardiovascular or metabolic disease in middle age, and we urgently need more epidemiological evidence to support their health management."
She added: "Further research is urgently needed to determine whether effectively managing maternal PCOS through exercise, diet, or medication can reduce illness risk and improve long-term health in offspring."
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