Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome among Girls’ Students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences and a Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of PCOS among Iranian Adolescent Girls

Background: The main objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among girls’ students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences and its relationship with anthropometric indices and the secondary purpose included a meta-analysis of the prevalence of PCOS in Iranian adolescent girls.  Materials and Methods: In the first part, the cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 636 students residing in dormitories of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Cluster sampling was used and stepwise logistic regression was used to evaluate the factors affecting the prevalence of PCOS. In the second part of the study, online databases were searched in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMABSE and Persian Magiran, SID, and Iran Doc databases basis of inclusion-exclusion criteria until January 2020. STROBE checklist was used to measure for evaluating of study quality.  Results: At firs part, 636 girl's students participant in this study. A total of 73 patients (11.5%) had PCOS. There was a significant relationship only between waist circumference with the prevalence of PCOS. For every one centimeter increase in waist circumference, the odds ratio of developing PCOS increases by 7%. According to the findings of six studies in the present meta-analysis, the prevalence of PCOS is 5.2% (95% CI: 3-8%). Heterogeneity cross studies was highly significant (p <0.01; I2=94%).  Conclusion: The prevalence of PCOS in adolescents and childbearing age group is not high in Iran. The results of the present study showed a significant relationship between waist circumferences (WC) with the prevalence of PCOS, so that for one-centimeter increase in WC, the odds ratio of developing PCOS increases by 7%.