Evaluation of Sleep Quality, Restless Legs Syndrome, Anxiety and Depression in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Objective:The objective of the study is to investigate sleep disorders in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and determine the relationship of sleep disorders with the metabolic and psychogenic aspects of PCOS.Materials and Methods:This case-control study was conducted between October 1, 2019, and March 1, 2020, at the gynaecology and neurology outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital. The study included 73 patients diagnosed with PCOS and 63 healthy women volunteers. Testosterone, fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels of all the participants were measured. All study participants completed Beck’s depression inventory (BDI), Beck’s anxiety inventory (BAI), Epworth Sleepiness scale (ESS), Berlin questionnaire (BQ), insomnia severity index (ISI), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). The presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) was assessed according to the international RLS study group criteria.Results:According to PSQI scores, 61.6% of patients with PCOS and 34.9% of healthy controls had a poor sleep quality (p=0.003). The PCOS group had significantly higher PSQI, ESS, ISI, BAI, BDI, and BQ scores than the control group (p=0.002, p=0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Although 23.3% of patients with PCOS met the RLS criteria, this rate was only 6.3% in the control group (p=0.013). There was a positive correlation between insulin resistance and PSQI (r=0.320, p=0.006).Conclusion:This study’s results indicate that PCOS may be a risk factor for several sleep disorders. In addition, the cumulative impact of both the organic and psychogenic changes caused by PCOS may lead to sleep disorders.

Keywords

• anxiety
• depression
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• insomnia
• insulin resistance
• restless legs syndrome