Socioeconomic burden of the polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Author:
Han Na KIM
1
;
Kyung Ah JEONG
;
Hye Won CHUNG
;
Geun Ryang BAE
;
Bok Ghee HAN
;
Hyung Lae KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Socioeconomic burden;
Polycystic ovary syndrome
- MeSH:
Endometrial Hyperplasia;
Female;
Humans;
Hypertension;
Incidence;
Infertility;
Korea;
Mass Screening;
National Institutes of Health (U.S.);
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome;
Prevalence;
Surveys and Questionnaire
- From:Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2009;52(12):1296-1305
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to estimate socioeconomic burden of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during the reproductive life span using current definitions and prevalence or incidence data. METHODS: Questionnaires were given to 8,588 reproductive women reviewed at Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. The PCOS affected approximately 10.4% of reproductive-aged women (11 million women in Korea, prevalence rate according to 1990 National Institutes of Health PCOS diagnosis criteria). We tied general societal cost data for the different health consequences to reproductive-age PCOS costs, using prevalence data. RESULTS: We estimated the mean annual cost of the initial evaluation to be 76 hundred million won, that of hormonally treating menstrual dysfunction, providing infertility care, diagnosis/treatment of endometrial hyperplasia, GDM, type 2 DM, and hypertension to be 280 billion won. The total annual socioeconomic cost of evaluating and providing care to reproductive-aged PCOS women in Korea is 350 billion won. CONCLUSION: Because the cost of the diagnostic evaluation accounted for a relatively minor part of the total socioeconomic costs, more widespread screening for PCOS appears be a cost-effective strategy, leading to earlier diagnosis and intervention and possibly the amelioration and prevention of serious sequelae.
