Prevalence of female hirsutism and PCOS in the United States: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Current research on hirsutism reveals disparities and knowledge deficiencies, particularly in underrepresented cohorts. Our objective is to scrutinize demographic variances in hirsutism rates.

Patients and Methods

Using the All of Us database, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis encompassing 172,401 women. We calculated prevalence rates and odds ratios for hirsutism among all women and those diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), examining various epidemiological factors.

Results

Among the sampled women, hirsutism prevalence was 1.37%; in PCOS-afflicted females, it was 19.12%. Asian and Hispanic women exhibited diminished hirsutism likelihoods, whereas African-American counterparts showed elevated likelihood. Additionally, females aged 60–74 and 75+ demonstrated reduced hirsutism risks. Higher education and income above $ 50,000 correlated with heightened hirsutism likelihoods. PCOS females had substantially elevated hirsutism probabilities compared to the general female cohort. Within PCOS cohorts, African-American females had heightened hirsutism rates, while Hispanic females showed lower rates.

Conclusions

In conclusion, hirsutism prevalence is generally low among United States females but markedly higher in PCOS cases. Notably, certain racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, both in the general populace and among PCOS patients, exhibit significantly disparate hirsutism rates.