Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Associated With Night Eating Syndrome and Sleep Complaints in Adolescence?

Study Objective: To evaluate the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), night eating syndrome (NES), and sleep problems in the adolescent population.

Methods: PCOS patients (n = 43) and healthy controls (n = 62) aged between 15 and 19 years were recruited from the clinics of Adolescent Medicine and Adolescent Gynecology. The Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire-Short Form (PSQ-SF) were completed by the participants.

Results: The PSQI (P = .175), PSQ-SF (P = .320), and NEQ (P = .493) scores were not statistically different between the PCOS and control groups. The NEQ scores were positively correlated with illness duration (r = 0.348, P = .024) in the PCOS group. There was no significant correlation between the NEQ scores and body mass index Z-score, total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels, or modified Ferriman-Gallwey Score. The NEQ scores were positively correlated with both the PSQI (r = 0.532, P < .001) and PSQ-SF scores (r = 0.204, P = .037) in the PCOS group. The ratio of adolescents at risk for NES (having an NEQ score ≥25) did not differ significantly between the PCOS and control groups (P = .601).

Conclusion: Adolescents with PCOS have NES scores similar to those of healthy controls. This result may change as the duration of exposure to the disease increases. When screening adolescents with PCOS for eating, psychiatric, and sleep problems, they should also be screened for NES due to the high comorbidity rates and symptom overlap of these health conditions.