Polycystic ovary syndrome and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Objective: To estimate the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess related moderators. Methods: Observational studies reporting on PPD rates in women with vs. without PCOS were identified in Embase/Medline/PsychInfo/Cinhail in 03/2021 since data inception. Quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. The primary outcome was the odds ratio (OR, 95% confidence intervals [95%CI]) of PPD in women with vs. without PCOS. Meta-regression analyses included the effects of age, body mass index, percent smokers, history of depression, preterm delivery, hypertension during pregnancy, gestational diabetes and cesarian section as well as subgroup analyses based on the assessment methods for PCOS and PPD. Sensitivity analyses after excluding poor quality studies and cross-sectional studies and sequentially excluding each study were performed. Results: One study was rated as good, two as fair and three as low-quality. In six studies (n = 934,922), 44,167 women with PCOS were at increased PPD risk compared to 890,755 women without PCOS (OR= 1.45, 95%CI= 1.18 to 1.79, p< 0.001). When excluding one study that underestimated PCOS prevalence, we estimated an OR of 1.59 (95%CI= 1.56 to 1.62, p< 0.001) with reduced heterogeneity (I2= 45.3%). Higher ORs of PPD in women with PCOS were moderated by lower percentage of preterm delivery (co-efficient-0.07, 95%CI=-0.1 to-0.04, p< 0.001). After excluding low-quality studies yielded an OR of 1.58 (95%CI= 1.56 to 1.59, p< 0.001) with heterogeneity dropping (I-2= 14.0%). Limitations: The methodological heterogeneity of available studies. Conclusions: Women with PCOS are at elevated PPD risk with risk moderators requiring further research.

Automated summary

The research showed that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk of postpartum depression, with lower preterm delivery rates moderating this risk. After excluding low-quality studies, the risk of postpartum depression slightly increased and heterogeneity decreased.