The Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Women with PCOS and OSA, compared to women with PCOS only, have more severe clinical and biochemical features of PCOS and impaired QoL. This is an observational cross-sectional study in a secondary care PCOS clinic in the WISDEM Centre, University Hospital Coventry. The primary aim of this study is to examine the relationship between OSA and impaired QoL in women with PCOS. Study secondary outcomes are to examine the relationship between OSA and the clinical and biochemical features in women with PCOS.

Detailed Description
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. PCOS is associated with multiple co-morbidities including obesity, insulin resistance, subfertility, impaired quality of life (QoL) and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common medical condition that is often undiagnosed, particularly in women. Obesity is a common risk factor for OSA and PCOS and OSA is associated with comorbidities similar to those observed in patients with PCOS such as insulin resistance, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and impaired QoL. Hence it is not surprising that OSA and PCOS might co-exist. However, the impact of OSA in women with PCOS remains unclear and understudied. It is plausible that OSA may contribute to the subfertility and impaired QoL observed in women with PCOS by increasing insulin resistance, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, disturbing the hypothalamic/pituitary/ovarian axis, and contributing to excessive daytime sleepiness and reduced mood. 38 women with PCOS will be recruited from the PCOS clinic, weight management clinic, reproductive endocrinology clinic and through posters displayed at University Hospital Coventry and an e-poster displayed at the hospital intranet. Women with increased risk of OSA, based on the Berlin questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), will have home-based sleep studies performed. They will also be referred to the Respiratory Physician, as part of routine NHS care. Study participants will be divided based on the results of the Berlin and ESS questionnaires and sleep studies into two groups: 1) PCOS low risk OSA: women with normal ESS and normal Berlin questionnaire (no sleep studies performed), or women with normal sleep studies; and 2) PCOS OSA: women with OSA proven by sleep studies. Clinical and biochemical features including reproductive history, depression and anxiety [using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaire (HAD)], and QoL [using the PCOS health-related quality of life questionnaire (PCOSQ) and the World Health Organisation QoL-BREF will be compared between the two groups.

Official Title
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The Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study

Conditions
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: To assess risk of OSA


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Women with PCOS, defined by the Rotterdam criteria as 2 out of 3: 1. Oligo/anovulation 2. Clinical or biochemical evidence of hirsutism 3. Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. And the exclusion of other disorders with similar presentation including: non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen secreting tumours, Cushing's syndrome; thyroid disorders and prolactinomas. Age ≥ 18 years. Able to provide written consent. Able to adequately understand English. Patients with unknown diagnosis of OSA, or who were investigated in the past and either found not to have OSA, or found to have OSA and are not on CPAP therapy. Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy or breastfeeding women. Patients who are unable to give consent. Patients known to have OSA treated with CPAP. Anyone under the age of 18 years. Unable to adequately understand or speak English.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Women with PCOS<br>Women with confirmed diagnosis of PCOS, based on the Rotterdam Criteria. To assess risk of OSA: the risk of OSA will be assessed using the Berlin questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Women with at high risk of OSA will have home-based sleep studies performed. | Other: To assess risk of OSA<br>* The risk of OSA will be assessed using the Berlin questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Women with at high risk of OSA will have home-based sleep studies performed. Study participants will be divided based on the results of the Berlin and ESS questionnaires and sleep studies into two groups: 1) PCOS low risk OSA: women with normal ESS and normal Berlin questionnaire (no sleep studies performed), or women with normal sleep studies; and 2) PCOS OSA: women with OSA proven by sleep studies.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference in scores on the World Health Organisation QoL questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA. | Quality of life will be measured using the World Health Organisation QoL-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. | One day. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Difference in BMI between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA. | BMI will be calculated as kg/m2 | One day. | 
| Difference in the number of periods per year between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA | Participants will be asked to recall how many periods they had in the last 4 months. | One day. | 
| Difference in scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA. | Participants will be asked to complete HAD questionnaire. | One day. | 
| Difference in the levels of HOMA-IR between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA in women with PCOS. | Fasting plasma glucose and insulin will be measured to calculate HOMA-IR | One day. | 
| Difference in scores on the PCOS health-related quality of life questionnaire (PCOSQ) between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA. | Quality of life will be measured using the PCOS health-related quality of life questionnaire (PCOSQ). | One day | 
| Difference in modified Ferriman-Gallwey score between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA. | Hirsutism will be measured using the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score. | One day. | 
| Difference in the levels of testosterone between women with PCOS and low risk of OSA compared to women with PCOS and OSA in women with PCOS. | Testosterone will be measured in nmol/L | One day. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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PCOS, OSA