PCOS Patients at Higher Risk of Delivery-Related Heart Complications

A recent study found a higher risk of delivery-related heart complications in PCOS patients. People with PCOS are more likely to develop complications during pregnancy. According to a subdivision of the NIH, PCOS is a hormonal disorder linked to irregular menstruation, high androgen levels, and ovarian cysts.  

Using information from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, researchers in this study looked at all in-hospital deliveries from 2002 to 2019 — excluding any patients under 18 — and divided them into PCOS and non-PCOS groups. Their complication rates were then calculated.  

The study found that patients with PCOS had increased rates of preeclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and heart failure, among other things. In fact, the rate of preeclampsia in PCOS mothers was over twice as high as in non-PCOS patients.  

“Our study stresses the importance of optimizing the cardiovascular health of women with polycystic ovary syndrome before, during, and after pregnancy to prevent adverse cardiovascular complications,” stated the researchers in the Journal of the American Heart Association.  

Researchers also quantified patient length of stay and cost of the visit. They found that, while the average length of stay in PCOS patients was only one day more than in non-PCOS patients, the cost of stay was significantly higher.  

The hospital fees for PCOS patients were between $3,423 and $7,175. Conversely, the price range for non-PCOS patients ranged from $2,520 to $5,274. The average cost of care for PCOS patients was $1,285 greater than that of non-PCOS patients.  

A review conducted in 2020 found that 21.27% of women of reproductive age have PCOS. Furthermore, PCOS rates have increased within the past several years.  

Information on pregnancy and delivery-related complications in PCOS is of great value to patients and their physicians because the condition can make it difficult to conceive. Hormonal imbalances in PCOS can alter the menstrual cycle, reducing or eliminating ovulation and the opportunity for egg fertilization.  

In fact, of all infertility cases due to lack of ovulation, 80% are women who are dealing with PCOS. Furthermore, a cross-sectional analysis from the Journal of Women’s Health found that women with PCOS had a 56% higher rate of infertility when compared to patients who did not have PCOS.  

In addition to the increased delivery cost, patients with PCOS will also have to deal with fees from fertility treatments. This longitudinal study and further research may identify risk factors and allow for earlier intervention, minimizing overall costs to PCOS patients.