Impact of updated international diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To study whether application of the new 2018 guidelines for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) would decrease the diagnosis of PCOS. Second, to compare the metabolic profiles of women included and excluded in this new definition. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional chart review. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital system. PATIENT(S): Women, ages 12–50, with the International Classification of Diseases code “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” in 2017. INTERVENTION(S): Application of the new 2018 guidelines for the diagnosis of PCOS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The primary outcome was the retention of PCOS diagnosis after applying the new 2018 guidelines. Secondary outcomes included the comparison of metabolic risk factors. Analysis was performed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and unpaired t tests for continuous variables, with a P value of <.05 determined to be significant. RESULT(S): Of 258 women with PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria, only 195 (76%) met the criteria based on the new 2018 guidelines. Those women who only met Rotterdam criteria (n = 63) had significantly lower body mass index (32.7 vs. 35.8), lower total cholesterol levels (151 vs. 176 mg/dL), lower triglyceride levels (96 vs. 124 mg/dL), lower total (33.2 vs. 52.3 ng/dL) and free testosterone levels (4.7 vs. 8.3), lower antimüllerian hormone levels (3.1 vs. 7.7 ng/mL), and were more likely to be multiparous (50% vs. 29%) than women who met 2018 criteria. CONCLUSION(S): Increasing the minimum antral follicle count to ≥20 antral follicles significantly decreases the number of women with the diagnosis of PCOS. Furthermore, the women that meet the new criteria have more health risks for metabolic syndrome than those who only meet the Rotterdam criteria.