Nearly 75% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome were screened for diabetes over a five-year period, with 19% undergoing the oral glucose tolerance test as recommended by guidelines, according to a recent study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6-12% of U.S. women of reproductive age and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Clinical guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Diabetes Association recommend the use of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diabetes screening in this population. 

A nationwide study assessed diabetes screening among 191,110 commercially insured women with PCOS, aged 18-64, without a baseline diagnosis. Data from the MarketScan database (2011-2019) were used to evaluate adherence to screening recommendations. Findings showed 73.4% were screened for diabetes at least once over a five-year period; however, only 19.2% underwent the OGTT as recommended. The majority were screened using A1C (61.6%) and fasting plasma glucose (23.4%).

Screening rates, published in BMC Endocrine Disorders, varied based on additional risk factors. Women with hypercholesterolemia had an 80.9% screening rate, while those with overweight/obesity had a rate of 79.8%. Women with hypertension had a 79.1% screening rate, and those with vascular disease had a rate of 77.30%. Women aged 45 years or older were less likely to be screened compared with those under 45.

Women with a greater number of risk factors were screened sooner. Those with four or more additional risk factors had an average screening time of 243.5 days, while those with one risk factor had an average of 339.2 days. Overall, 86% of women with four or more additional risk factors were screened for diabetes.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.