title: Health-related quality of life and its relationship with clinical symptoms among Iranian patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been shown to cause a reduction in Health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the extent of different clinical symptoms in PCOS patients on HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was undertaken to ascertain the factors related to HRQOL in 200 PCOS patients in Kashan, Iran. Main outcome measures were modified polycystic ovarian syndrome questionnaire (MPCOSQ) and clinical information of PCOS. Major clinical PCOS features including obesity (BMI), excessive body hair (hirsutism score), acne, menstrual cycle disturbances and infertility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings showed that the most common HRQOL concern was menstrual irregularities and infertility, followed in descending order by hirsutism, weight, emotion, and acne. Multivariate analysis revealed the menstrual irregularities as a significant predictor of menstruation (p=0.005), emotion (p=0.02) and infertility (p=0.02) subscales of the MPCOSQ. Having of infertility, predicted scores on the infertility subscale (p<0.0001). Hirsutism score was a significant predictor of hirsutism (p<0.0001) and emotion (p<0.0001) subscales. Weight subscale concerns was predicted by BMI (p<0.0001), also, acne was found to be predicted score of acne subscale (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Worsened HRQOL in women with PCOS was related to more menstrual irregularities and infertility than to obesity. The finding suggests a potential for poorer compliance with weight management protocols among affected PCOS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran .
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bazarganipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran .
authors.forename: Saeide
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziaei
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Group, Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran .
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montazeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran .
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foroozanfard
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran .
authors.forename: Soghrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faghihzadeh
keywords: Iran; Polycystic ovarian syndrome; Quality of life