PREVALENCE OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS) AND BURDEN OF DISEASE AMONG WOMEN AGES 18-44 IN THE US, NATIONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SURVEY
Author(s)
Nikoletta Sternbach, BA, Kathy Annunziata, MA, Sarah Benner, BS, Shaloo Gupta, MS;
Oracle Life Science, Austin, TX, USA
Oracle Life Science, Austin, TX, USA
OBJECTIVES: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is estimated to impact 6% of reproductive age women in the US and is often underdiagnosed.1,2 This study assesses the prevalence of diagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and burden of disease among US women age 18-44 years old.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data (total n=75,013) from the 2024 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS). Women, age 18 to 44, with self-reported physician diagnoses of PCOS were compared against women without PCOS. Prevalence, demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life (QoL using RAND-36), resource utilization, work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI), symptoms of depression and anxiety using (PHQ-9) and (GAD-7) scales were reported. Results were weighted to the US adult population.
RESULTS: Among US women of reproductive age of 18-44 (59.0M) the lifetime diagnosis of PCOS was 6% (3.5M; n=914). Diagnosed women were white (60.1% vs 52.9%), less college educated (29.0% vs 39.9%), had lower household income (<$50K) (48.4% vs 40.3%), and were more likely to be overweight/obese (BMI>=25) (79.3% vs 52.2%) and taking steps to lose weight (60.3% vs 37.2%), or drink alcohol (67.5% vs 59.8%) compared to women without PCOS. Among PCOS respondents, resource utilization was significantly higher, QoL was worse using RAND-36 (Physical Health Composite (41.2 vs 46.1) and Mental Health Composite (34.6 vs 40.3) T Scores), work productivity (35.4% vs 32.0%) amongst employed and activity impairment (38.6% vs 29.1%) were significantly higher compared to women without PCOS. Women with PCOS exhibited higher rate of moderate to severe depression (48.7% vs 36.4%) and anxiety (72.8% vs 54.0%) symptoms using PHQ-9 scales and GAD-7 than women without PCOS.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight substantially higher burden among women diagnosed with PCOS and suggest unmet need. Increasing awareness and education for both physicians and women could help early diagnosis of PCOS and improve health outcomes.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data (total n=75,013) from the 2024 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS). Women, age 18 to 44, with self-reported physician diagnoses of PCOS were compared against women without PCOS. Prevalence, demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life (QoL using RAND-36), resource utilization, work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI), symptoms of depression and anxiety using (PHQ-9) and (GAD-7) scales were reported. Results were weighted to the US adult population.
RESULTS: Among US women of reproductive age of 18-44 (59.0M) the lifetime diagnosis of PCOS was 6% (3.5M; n=914). Diagnosed women were white (60.1% vs 52.9%), less college educated (29.0% vs 39.9%), had lower household income (<$50K) (48.4% vs 40.3%), and were more likely to be overweight/obese (BMI>=25) (79.3% vs 52.2%) and taking steps to lose weight (60.3% vs 37.2%), or drink alcohol (67.5% vs 59.8%) compared to women without PCOS. Among PCOS respondents, resource utilization was significantly higher, QoL was worse using RAND-36 (Physical Health Composite (41.2 vs 46.1) and Mental Health Composite (34.6 vs 40.3) T Scores), work productivity (35.4% vs 32.0%) amongst employed and activity impairment (38.6% vs 29.1%) were significantly higher compared to women without PCOS. Women with PCOS exhibited higher rate of moderate to severe depression (48.7% vs 36.4%) and anxiety (72.8% vs 54.0%) symptoms using PHQ-9 scales and GAD-7 than women without PCOS.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight substantially higher burden among women diagnosed with PCOS and suggest unmet need. Increasing awareness and education for both physicians and women could help early diagnosis of PCOS and improve health outcomes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH36
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health