Prevalence and Levels of Thyroid Autoantibodies in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—Impact of TSH- and BMI-Matched Comparisons: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis, involving 40 studies with 6,045 PCOS patients and 4,527 controls, found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly higher prevalence and levels of thyroid autoantibodies, specifically anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG), compared to controls. The odds ratios for anti-TPO and anti-TG were 2.03 and 1.92, respectively. Even after matching for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and body mass index (BMI), anti-TPO levels remained elevated, suggesting that PCOS may independently contribute to increased autoimmune activity. The study underscores the importance of considering thyroid function in managing PCOS due to its potential link with autoimmune thyroid disorders.