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Early Life Factors and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Swedish Birth Cohort

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  • Beata Vivien Boldis

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
    Epidemiology, Population Studies and Infrastructures (EPI@LUND), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
    Centre for Economic Demography, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Ilona Grünberger

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Agneta Cederström

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Jonas Björk

    (Epidemiology, Population Studies and Infrastructures (EPI@LUND), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Anton Nilsson

    (Epidemiology, Population Studies and Infrastructures (EPI@LUND), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
    Centre for Economic Demography, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Jonas Helgertz

    (Centre for Economic Demography, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
    Department of Economic History, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
    Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation, Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a medical condition with important consequences for women’s well-being and reproductive outcomes. Although the etiology of PCOS is not fully understood, there is increasing evidence of both genetic and environmental determinants, including development in early life. We studied a population of 977,637 singleton women born in in Sweden between 1973 and 1995, followed sometime between the age 15 and 40. The incidence of PCOS was measured using hospital register data during 2001–2012, complemented with information about the women’s, parents’ and sisters’ health and social characteristics from population and health care registers. Cox regression was used to study how PCOS is associated with intergenerational factors, and a range of early life characteristics. 11,594 women in the study sample were diagnosed with PCOS during the follow-up period. The hazard rate for PCOS was increased 3-fold (HR 2.98, 95% CI 2.43–3.64) if the index woman’s mother had been diagnosed with PCOS, and with 1.5-fold (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.39–1.63) if their mother had diabetes mellitus. We found associations of PCOS with lower (<7) one-minute Apgar score (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.29) and with post-term birth (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.13–1.26). Furthermore, heavy (10+ cigarettes/day) maternal smoking (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.18–1.44) and maternal obesity (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.62–2.36) were strongly associated with PCOS. This study finds support for the heritability and fetal origins of PCOS. Risk of PCOS could be reduced by further emphasizing the importance of maternal and early life health.

Suggested Citation

  • Beata Vivien Boldis & Ilona Grünberger & Agneta Cederström & Jonas Björk & Anton Nilsson & Jonas Helgertz, 2023. "Early Life Factors and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Swedish Birth Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:22:p:7083-:d:1283492
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wendy M. Wolf & Rachel A. Wattick & Olivia N. Kinkade & Melissa D. Olfert, 2018. "Geographical Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Determined by Region and Race/Ethnicity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-13, November.
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