High prevalence of PCOS in pediatric patients living with type 2 diabetes

A McMaster-led study reports a high prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in pediatric patients living with type 2 diabetes.

The paper, published in JAMA Network Open, is a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence on PCOS in youth with type 2 diabetes. The paper reports that almost 1:5 girls living with diabetes have PCOS. 

“This is an important finding” says Dr. M. Constantine Samaan, the senior author of the paper. 

“We knew that girls with type 2 diabetes are at risk of PCOS, however the exact risk was not fully clear. The fact that a significant number of girls who already have a chronic metabolic disorder like diabetes are further burdened by yet another disorder like PCOS.” 

Healthcare providers for young women living with type 2 diabetes now have more precise information about PCOS risk that can help their conversation with their patients. These figures also advocate for screening for menstrual disorders clinically and using blood testing to determine which patients require additional therapies to manage PCOS. 

To read the paper, you can access it here:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789059