Intergenerational Associations of Chronic Disease and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
2011

Parental Chronic Disease and PCOS in Daughters

Sample size: 715 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Michael J. Davies, Jennifer L. Marino, Kristyn J. Willson, Wendy A. March, Vivienne M. Moore

Primary Institution: The University of Adelaide

Hypothesis

Are parents of young women with PCOS more likely to have a history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease?

Conclusion

Mothers and fathers of women with PCOS are more likely to have cardiovascular diseases compared to parents of women without PCOS.

Supporting Evidence

  • Mothers of women with PCOS were more likely to have cardiovascular disease (RR 1.78).
  • Fathers of women with PCOS were more than twice as likely to have heart disease (RR 2.36).
  • Fathers of women with PCOS were over four times as likely to have had a stroke (RR 4.37).

Takeaway

If a woman has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), her parents are more likely to have heart problems or diabetes.

Methodology

Structured interviews were conducted with participants about their medical history and that of their parents.

Potential Biases

Potential reporting bias due to reliance on participant recollection of parental health.

Limitations

The study relied on participant reports of parental disease history, which may introduce recall bias.

Participant Demographics

Participants were women born in Adelaide between 1973 and 1975, with a focus on those diagnosed with PCOS.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% CI 1.29, 2.47

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0025947

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