Global burden of polycystic ovary syndrome in women of reproductive age, 1990–2021: Analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021 with projections to 2050

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the global burden of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among women of reproductive age from 1990 to 2021. Methods This study analyzed population-based data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database on the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of PCOS in reproductive-aged women. Age-standardized rates for incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), and DALYs (ASDR) were calculated per 100,000 population, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Data from 204 countries and territories were stratified by age, location, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Results Globally, the burden of PCOS among reproductive-aged women in 2021 was characterized by ASIR of 64.44 (95% UI: 39.07, 103.40) per 100,000 population, ASPR of 3364.53 (95% UI: 2395.08, 4681.81) per 100,000 population, and ASDR of 29.51 (95% UI: 13.09, 61.49) per 100,000 population. Moreover, the pace of increase in ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR accelerated during 1990–2021, with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.69), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.77), and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.76), respectively. Among the five SDI regions, the middle SDI region exhibited the highest EAPCs for incidence (1.39; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.43), prevalence (1.39; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.43), and DALYs (1.73; 95% CI: 1.69, 1.78). Regionally, the High-income Asia Pacific region demonstrated the highest ASIR of 308.16 (95% UI: 485.83, 171.53) per 100,000 population. At the national level, Japan exhibited the highest ASIR of 360.92 (95% UI: 199.08, 573.59) per 100,000 population. Conclusion The global burden of PCOS among women of reproductive age has shown a consistent upward trend in incidence, prevalence, and DALYs. A comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of PCOS among women of reproductive age is essential for informing targeted prevention strategies and optimizing disease control measures.