Association between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Preterm Labor: A Case–Control Study at CMH Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased risk of preterm labor.

Methods: A case–control study was conducted at CMH Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, between December 2024 and May 2025. A total of 222 women were enrolled: 111 cases (preterm labor,<37 weeks) and 111 controls (term labor, 37–42 weeks). PCOS was diagnosed using the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The mean age was 29.45 ± 5.89 years, gestational age 36.22 ± 3.59 weeks, parity 2.18 ± 1.09, and BMI 32.04 ± 2.32 kg/m². PCOS prevalence was 20.3%. Preterm women had significantly higher rates of PCOS (26.1%) compared to term women (14.4%). This association was statistically significant (χ² = 4.73, p = 0.030), with an OR of 2.10 (95% CI: 1.07–4.14). BMI did not significantly influence PCOS prevalence (p = 0.134_).

Conclusions: Women with PCOS were approximately twice as likely to deliver preterm. Findings support international evidence that PCOS is an independent risk factor for preterm labor, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance of pregnant women with PCOS.