Risk of cancers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Cohort study based on health insurance database in South Korea
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the risk of all cancer types associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a Korean population‐based study.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study used national health checkups and insurance data between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2020. Women aged 20–50 years who attended medical institutions for PCOS or underwent health checkups were included. In total, 774 811 participants were included. The PCOS and non‐PCOS groups comprised 127 980 and 563 850 patients, respectively. After 1:1 propensity score matching, each group consisted of 127 712 participants. Hazard ratios were evaluated for all types of cancers associated with PCOS across age groups.
Results
Demographic and clinical characteristics of women with and without PCOS were not significantly different. However, in the PCOS group, the total cancer risk increased (hazard ratio: 1.156, 95% confidence interval: 1.058–1.263, P = 0.001), and the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers increased (hazard ratio: 4.963, 95% confidence interval: 3.282–7.504, P < 0.001; hazard ratio: 1.774, 95% confidence interval: 1.142–2.755, P = 0.011, respectively). The risk of thyroid cancer increased in the 20–29 years age group within the PCOS group (hazard ratio: 1.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.009–1.427, P = 0.039).
Conclusion
PCOS is associated with an increased risk of uterine and ovarian cancers. An increased risk of thyroid cancer was associated with PCOS in the 20–29 years age group. However, no link was found between PCOS and breast cancer. This should be considered when treating patients with PCOS.