Hypertensive Blood Pressure in Adolescent Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with hypertension in women, but few population studies have examined findings among adolescents. This retrospective study examines PCOS and hypertensive blood pressure in a large adolescent population receiving routine healthcare.

Methods: Among females aged 13-17 years who had a well-child visit with systolic/diastolic blood pressure measured in a Northern California healthcare system (2013-2019), the outcome of hypertensive blood pressure (≥130/80 mmHg) was examined. Polycystic ovary syndrome was based on clinical diagnosis (ICD-9/10 256.4/E28.2) within 1 year of the visit. Overweight and obesity were defined by BMI 85th to <95th percentile and ≥95th percentile, respectively; 1.7% with underweight (<5th percentile) were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of polycystic ovary syndrome and hypertensive blood pressure, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, BMI category, and estimated neighborhood deprivation index. Analyses were conducted in 2023-2024.

Results: The cohort included 224,418 females (mean age 14.9±1.4 years; 34.3% non-Hispanic White, 30.1% Hispanic, 19.5% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 9.7% Black). Overall, 18.7% had overweight and 15.8% had obesity. The prevalence of hypertensive blood pressure was 7.2%, much higher for those with polycystic ovary syndrome (18.2%) versus no polycystic ovary syndrome (7.1%, p<0.001). In adjusted analyses, polycystic ovary syndrome was associated with 1.25-fold greater odds of hypertensive blood pressure (95% CI=1.10, 1.42). Similar findings were seen among the subset with obesity (OR=1.23 [95% CI=1.06, 1.42]).

Conclusions: Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome had hypertensive blood pressure. Polycystic ovary syndrome was associated with 25% increased adjusted odds of hypertensive blood pressure, emphasizing the importance of blood pressure surveillance in this population with higher cardiometabolic risk.