TITLE:
A Comparison of Polysomnographic Variables between Adolescents with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Healthy Controls
AUTHORS:
Gideon de Sousa, Bernhard Schlüter, Thomas Menke, Eckardt Trowitzsch, Werner Andler, Thomas Reinehr
KEYWORDS:
PCOS, OSAS, Adolescents, Obesity, Extreme Obesity, Polysomnography
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.1 No.2,
November
30,
2010
ABSTRACT: The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is clearly increased in adults with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The symptoms of PCOS usually begin around menarche. However, data concerning poly¬somnographic variables in adolescents with PCOS are limited. As obesity is a well-known risk factor for OSAS, we aimed to analyze differences in polysomnographic variables between obese and extremely obese adolescents with PCOS and healthy, normal-weight, obese, and extremely obese controls. Methods: Sixteen obese and 17 extremely obese adolescents with PCOS, 18 normal-weight, 17 obese, and 13 extremely obese controls underwent polysomno¬graphy to compare mean transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (Sat O2), apnea-index (AI), hypopnea- index (HI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the absolute number of obstructive apneas (NOA), percentage sleep stages 3 and 4 of non REM-sleep (stages 3 & 4), percentage of REM-sleep (% REM), sleep-onset latency, and sleep efficiency. Results: We found no significant differences between the groups concerning AI, HI, AHI, NOA, and stages 3 & 4. Significant differ¬ences between the groups were found regarding Sat O2, % REM, sleep-onset latency, and sleep efficiency. Conclusions: Concerning the respiratory variables, adolescents with PCOS do not seem to differ from healthy controls regardless of weight status, but there seem to be differences in sleep architecture.