Productivity loss due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms and its Relationship to Race, Mental Health and Health Care Delivery Indices

Objective To study the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on work-related impairments and to explore relationships with race, mental health, and healthcare delivery indices Design A cross-sectional internet-based survey Setting North American women with PCOS between August 2022 and October 2022 Patients Individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of PCOS.; Interventions: No Main Outcome Measures Primary outcomes included missed work due to PCOS. Secondary outcomes encompassed leave from work, impacts on the quality of work, and feelings of being held back at work due to PCOS Results Out of 1,105 respondents, 1,058 reported having PCOS diagnosed by a physician. Of this group, 50.4% reported missing work because of PCOS, 72% felt PCOS impacted the quality of their work, and 51.5% felt held back at work by PCOS. Multivariable analyses revealed that missing work due to PCOS independently associated with Black race, lack of insurance, requiring multiple doctors for a PCOS diagnosis, needing three or more doctors for current care, decreased satisfaction with care, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusions PCOS significantly impacts employment-related productivity. Factors such as race, mental health, and healthcare delivery appear to play a crucial role in the extent of this impact.