Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is characterised by hyperandrogenism (clinical/biochemical), chronic anovulation and/or polycystic ovaries/elevated anti-Müllerian hormone. Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women with PCOS, but large prospective studies employing population-based cohorts are lacking.

Here, Glintborg et al. undertook a national register-based study to investigate the incidence of autoimmune disease before and after diagnosis of PCOS in a Danish population, compared with controls. In their study of 30,340 women with PCOS and 151,520 controls, they show that, after a diagnosis of PCOS, the incidence of any autoimmune disease was 1.5 times higher and that of type 1 diabetes was 3.5 times higher compared with controls. Furthermore, they highlight that, in women with PCOS, the higher incidence of autoimmune disease was associated with higher body mass index, co-morbidity, lower socioeconomic status and non-Danish ethnicity.

Based on these findings, the authors recommend continued awareness for autoimmune diseases in women with PCOS, not only at diagnosis, but also during follow up.

Read the full article in Clinical Endocrinology https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.70019