Factors Influencing Physical Activity in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Comparison to Eumenorrheic Non Hirsute Women

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Although physical activity and weight loss has been proposed as the first line management in patients with PCOS, studies on physical activity in patients with PCOS are limited. The aims of this study were to compare levels of physical activity and its related factors between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and eumenorrheic non hirsute women. We compared the physical activity of our study group using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), using T-test or Mann-Whitney to compare the means of two groups. Step wise multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between physical activity and body mass index and demographic factors. The results showed that physical activity levels in PCOS women compared to controls were similar; however the time spent sitting in PCOS women was significantly higher than controls; (6.94±2.2 versus 6.09±2.63 hours, P<0.001).

Low levels of physical activity were reported by 59.2% of cases and 57.1% of controls. A positive association between physical activity levels and BMI (P=0.001) and age (P=0.03) was observed in PCOS women. In controls, physical activity levels was found to be associated with BMI (P=0.01), education (P=0.03) and pregnancy status (P=0.03). Considering the results of this study, it was concluded that In PCOS women, the impacts of demographic factors on physical activity may be less important than controls.