title: Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a sample of Indigenous women in Darwin, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its associated characteristics in a sample of urban Indigenous women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of Indigenous women, including biochemical and anthropometric assessments. PCOS was assessed using the National Institutes of Health 1990 criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indigenous women, aged 15-44 years, living in a defined area in and around Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, September 2003-March 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportion of participants with PCOS overall and measures of obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 248 women eligible for assessment, the proportion who had PCOS was 15.3% (95% CI, 10.8%-19.8%). The proportion with PCOS was similar across age groups, but was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in women with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2) (30.5%) compared with women with a BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2) (8.2%) or a BMI of < 25.0 kg/m(2) (7.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high proportion of these Indigenous women had PCOS. The significant relationship with obesity gives a strong rationale for screening for PCOS during routine care of Indigenous women who are obese and of reproductive age.
authors.affiliation: Jean Hailes for Women's Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC. jacqueline.boyle@monash.edu
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Kerin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Dea
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult