The role of obesity in the increased prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in a population of premenopausal women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to study the impact of obesity on the increased prevalence of OSAS in this population.

METHODS

Twenty-three premenopausal women with definite PCOS, and no prior diagnosis of a sleep disorder, were recruited from gynecology clinics. An investigator interviewed them, for symptoms of excessive sleepiness, their body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and they underwent overnight polysomnography.

RESULTS

Sixteen of 23 (69.6%) met criteria for OSAS. Five were treated with continuous positive airway pressure. Confidence interval was 47.7-84.5%. An increased respiratory disturbance index (RDI) did not correlate with higher BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

OSAS is significantly more prevalent in this population than in a population of obese women. There was no correlation between obesity and severity of the OSAS. Obesity is not the cause of this increased prevalence of OSAS in a population of women with PCOS.