Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the University of Birmingham, whose research was published in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
Experts are now asking healthcare policy makers to specifically encourage Women with polycystic ovary syndrome to stick to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures while the world continues to face the pandemic.
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Experts analyzed data from more than 21 thousand women with PCOS and over 78 thousand patients who do not suffer from this syndrome.
The incidence of COVID-19 in the first group was almost twice as high as in the second: there were 18.1 cases of infection per 1000 participants with PCOS, and 11.9 cases per 1000 women without the syndrome.
“Given the high prevalence of PCOS, these findings need to be considered when designing public health policy and advice as our understanding of COVID-19 evolves,” said study co-author Anuradha Subramanian.
“Women suffering from this condition may fear, with some degree of justification, that an enhanced risk of COVID-19 infection will further compromise timely access to healthcare and serve to increase the sense of disenfranchisement currently experienced by many patients”, she added.
Scientists advised women with polycystic ovary syndrome to be more careful about their health during a pandemic, avoid crowds and use personal protective equipment.