Zeitschrift für Frauengesundheit
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Fitness Assessments of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Indications: A Pilot Study

Pamela J Wright*, Cynthia F Corbett, Robin M Dawson, Michael D Wirth, Bernardine M Pinto

Objective: Fitness is a marker of physiological and mental health. Purposes of this pilot study were to assess the feasibility of collecting health and fitness data from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and explore possible associations between anthropometrics, PCOS biomarkers, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), and depressive symptoms with that of fitness and self-reported physical activity levels among women with PCOS. Methods: A sample of women with PCOS (n=15) were recruited via flyers and the snowball method. Participants completed surveys, anthropometrics, a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan, blood work, and a fitness assessment. Data were statistically analyzed using Spearman correlations. Results: Feasibility measures of recruitment and retention rates were 83% and 100%, respectively. Participants [age 25.9 (± 6.2), mostly White (80%), single (60%), and employed full-time (67%)] were categorized as obese (BMI 32.2kg/m2 ± 8.3, percent body fat 41.1% ± 8.1) with ≤ 1 comorbidity. Most participants were not regularly physically active and had high free testosterone levels (7.6pg/mL ± 4.3), elevated high-density lipoprotein (63.2mg/dL ± 12.9), fair cardiovascular capacity (36.8 ± 10.6), and below average muscular strength/endurance (15.4PU ± 4.0; 21.3CU ± 18.2). The following statistically significant and strong associations were found: 1) VO2 max with percent body fat (-0.59; p=0.02), sex hormone binding globulin (0.73; p=0.00), HRQoL (0.72; p=0.00), and depressive symptoms (-0.67; p=0.00), 2) abdominal strength with BMI (-0.66; p=0.01) and HDL (0.59; p=0.02), 3) physical activity level with percent body fat (0.72; p=0.00), and 4) resistance training with LDL (0.52; p=0.05). Conclusion: Collecting health and fitness data from women with PCOS is a feasible research approach. Randomized controlled trials in which health and fitness data are collected from women with PCOS are needed to confirm possible associations between fitness and PCOS clinical features.