The Relationship between Lifestyle and Quality of Life in Women with Different Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotypes

Aim. To establish the nature of the relationship between lifestyle and quality of life in women with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design. Retrospective study case — control. Materials and methods. 307 women were examined — 165 diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria, 142 without gynecological pathologies (mean of age 32.2 Ѓ} 6.38 years). The 12-Item Short-Form quality of life scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Godin — Shepard Physical Activity Questionnaire were used. The women were asked to provide information about their eating behavior, body mass index and bad habits. Results. Subjects with PCOS type A with a high value of the physical component of quality of life have a higher Godin — Shepard index (Me = 29.5 vs. 15; U = 48.5, p = 0.026) and drink beer less often (Me = 1 vs. 2; U = 6, p = 0.05). With a high value of the psychological component of quality of life, women with PCOS type A smoke more often (Me = 1 vs. 0; U = 57, p = 0.05). In PCOS type B, patients with a high physical quality of life score are more likely to smoke (Me = 1 vs. 0; U = 40, p = 0.05), but they smoke fewer cigarettes (Me = 4 vs. 10; U = 0, p = 0.01), spend more time outdoors (Me = 5 vs. 4; U = 44, p = 0.05), and engage in light physical activity more often (Me = 5 vs. 1; U = 7, p = 0.05). With a high psychological quality of life score, women with PCOS type B also smoke more often (Me = 1 vs. 0; U = 35, p = 0.05) and also smoke fewer cigarettes (Me = 5 vs. 8; U = 42, p = 0.05). In PCOS type C, patients with a high physical quality of life component score were more likely to drink tea (Me = 1 vs. 0, U = 94, p = 0.05) than coffee (Me = 0 vs. 1, U = 67, p = 0.05) and smoke fewer cigarettes on average (Me = 5 vs. 11, U = 3, p = 0.05). In PCOS type D, we found no differences between participants with a high and low physical quality of life component score, but women with a high mental quality of life component score had a higher Godin — Shepard index (Me = 31 vs. 15, U = 71, p = 0.012) and spent more time walking (Me = 3 vs. 1, U = 154, p = 0.03). Conclusion. Women with different PCOS phenotypes were characterized by different relationships between quality of life and its style. In phenotypes A and B, quality of life is associated with physical activity, while in phenotypes C and D it is not. In women with PCOS phenotype B, quality of life is positively associated with smoking, while in other phenotypes it is the opposite. The obtained results can be used to develop recommendations for improving the quality of life of women with PCOS. Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes, women, quality of life, lifestyle.