Long-Term Follow-Up and Risk of PCOS in Indiana Girls with a History of Premature Adrenarche—A Single Center Experience

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate rates of self-reported Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), metabolic abnormalities and age of menarche in girls with a history of Premature Adrenarche (PA) and the association of baseline characteristics with these outcomes. Methods: A retrospective chart review of girls with PA seen between 2005 and 2015 was conducted. Eligible patients (or their mothers in girls <18 years of age) were surveyed by telephone to query whether they had developed PCOS, diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidemia as well as their age of menarche. Associations of baseline characteristics with PCOS or metabolic abnormalities were analyzed. Results: A total of 359 patients with PA were identified, of whom 118 completed a telephone survey. At baseline, the average age of girls with PA was 6.7 ± 1.4 years, of whom 55% were White. At follow-up, the average age of girls was 17 ± 3.5 years. Among the respondents, 19.5% reported a diagnosis of PCOS, 5.1% reported diabetes, 8.5% pre-diabetes, 7.6% hypertension and 6% hyperlipidemia. Major risk factors for PCOS included a maternal history of PCOS (p = 0.005, OR 4.1) and increased BMI at baseline (p = 0.03, OR 1.69). Additionally, girls with history of PA had an earlier age of menarche compared to their mothers (11.3 ± 1.6 years vs. 11.9 ± 1.5 years, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Our results suggest that maternal history of PCOS poses the greatest risk for future development of self-reported PCOS in girls with a history of PA followed by increased BMI. Prospective studies using objective diagnostic criteria are needed to corroborate these findings, as our outcomes were based on self-reported data.