DHEA and polycystic ovarian syndrome: Meta-analysis of case-control studies

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 12; p. e0261552
• Main Authors: Benjamin, Jiby Jolly, K., MaheshKumar, Koshy, Teena, K. N., Maruthy, R., Padmavathi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 21.12.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Androgens; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Care and treatment; Case studies; Case-Control Studies; Complications and side effects; Cysts; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone - blood; Dehydroepiandrosterone - physiology; Diagnosis; Female; Finite element method; Heterogeneity; Higher education; Humans; Infertility; Insulin resistance; Medical schools; Medicine and Health Sciences; Menstruation; Meta-analysis; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolism; Ovaries; Pathogenesis; Patient outcomes; Physical Sciences; Physiology; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - etiology; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - psychology; Psychological stress; Quality of life; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Statistical analysis; Stein-Leventhal syndrome; Stress, Psychological - blood; Stress, Psychological - complications; Systematic review; India; Tamil Nadu India
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261552

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a heterogenous endocrine disorder characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, hirsuitism and polycystic ovaries. It is further complicated by metabolic syndrome, infertility and psychological stress. Although the etiopathogenesis is unclear, many studies have pointed out the role of stress in this syndrome. DHEA, being a stress marker is being used by scientists to compare the stress levels between polycystic ovarian cases and healthy controls. However, the results obtained from previous studies are equivocal. To perform meta-analysis and find the association between stress and the syndrome. Relevant data till January 2021 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science using MeSH terms. Case-control studies having PCOS subjects as cases and healthy women as controls were selected provided; their basal DHEA levels were mentioned in the published articles. Two authors independently extracted the articles and qualified the final studies. Pooled meta-analysis was done using random effect model and showed level of DHEA statistically significant in PCOS compared to healthy controls (SMD = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.59-1.71).Heterogeneity was statistically significant as well (I2 = 95%). Thismeta-analysis on DHEA and PCOS has helped in generating evidence regarding the involvement of stress in the pathogenesis of PCOS.