Prevalence and Accurate Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescents Across World Regions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The systematic review and meta-analysis by Adriana C H Neven and colleagues assessed the prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents globally, analyzing 23 studies with 14,010 participants. The prevalence of PCOS was found to be 9.8% using the 2003 Rotterdam criteria and 6.3% with the updated International Evidence-based PCOS Guideline criteria, which exclude polycystic ovarian morphology to prevent overdiagnosis. The study highlights significant variability in prevalence rates due to differences in diagnostic criteria and regional factors, emphasizing the need for standardized diagnostic criteria to improve accuracy. The research also notes a lack of studies from African and American regions, underscoring the importance of global collaboration and further research to enhance early and accurate diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents.