Study finds 17.4% prevalence of PCOS in Delhi's college-going women
A study of 1,164 college-going women in the age group 18-25 years in Delhi shows a 17.4% prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the second-highest in the country.
Partly funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the study was published recently in the peer-reviewed journal, BMC Health. It comprised a cross-sectional survey, and a systematic review which analysed similar studies from 2010 to 2024 across India in similar age groups.
The study notes that PCOS, the endocrinologic disorder affecting females in the reproductive age, characterised by menstrual dysfunction, infertility, hirsutism, acne, and obesity, is 'prevalent yet under-researched'.
It states that the pooled prevalence of previous studies in similar age groups, using the same criteria, across various regions in India, stood at 8.41%.
In 2023, the Ministry of Science and Technology had stated that India has a PCOS prevalence of 3.70%-22.50%. The prevalence of PCOS can vary between rural and urban areas, socio-cultural settings, and age groups. In previous studies, Lucknow reported the lowest prevalence of 3.70%, while Mumbai reported a prevalence of 22.50%.
Another study found that the prevalence can go up to 36% in adolescents.
Higher prevalence of PCOS in urban areas
A higher prevalence of PCOS has been noted in urban areas with heterogeneous populations, with many women moving for academic opportunities and work, the study notes. 'This displacement causes psychological stress, disrupted sleep routine, and poor dietary habits resulting from competition for education and jobs, and juggling responsibilities of home and work, that could possibly be associated with rising rates of PCOS,' the researchers stated.
The research was conducted by Apoorva Sharma, Naorem Kiranmala Devi, and Kallur Nava Saraswathy from the Department of Anthropology, Delhi University; and Dr. Yamini Swarwal, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.
'There are few studies focusing on this age group in India. We took ethical clearances from Delhi University to conduct the field work, which took us about two years,' Prof. Saraswathy said.
She added that the majority of women sampled had already been diagnosed, while the researchers had arranged for undiagnosed women experiencing symptoms to undergo ultrasound testing.
Of the 1,164 women surveyed, 70.30% had already been diagnosed, while 29.70% were newly diagnosed during the study.
Socio-demographic factors
Women from the upper class, and upper middle class, according to the Modified Kuppuswamy Scale on socio-economic status, are at an increased risk, the study found. It notes that higher disposable incomes had contributed to a 'nutrition transition', with increased consumption of fats, oils, processed foods, mixed carbohydrates and sugar, as well as eating out, becoming integral to urban Indian culture.
'Increased access to labour-saving devices and cars has reduced physical activity, leading to rising prevalence of insulin resistance and obesity, which are all associated with PCOS pathogenesis,' the study adds.
The study also found that the highest prevalence of PCOS is seen among the Scheduled Tribes (21.40%), followed by the General Category (19.90%), in comparison with Other Backward Classes (OBC) and the Scheduled Castes. It noted that this finding might reflect 'broader societal disparities and variations in access to healthcare and resources among caste groups', underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
17 minutes ago
- Hans India
Shaheen Group secures 500 MBBS seats for Indian students in Tajikistan
Hyderabad: As hundreds of students fail to secure MBBS seats through merit or management quotas, Shaheen Group of Institutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Medical Social Institute of Tajikistan, under which 500 students will be able to pursue MBBS degrees at the institute. As part of the collaboration, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to India, along with the Cultural Ambassador and other diplomatic representatives, visited the Shaheen Campus. Dr Zainab, the Tajikistan coordinator, assured that full security is provided to international students there. Dr Abdul Qadeer, Chairman of the Shaheen Group of Institutions, explained that this agreement offers such students a chance to fulfill their dream of becoming doctors. He further stated that students can complete the entire six-year MBBS course, including hostel accommodation and Indian food, for just Rs 32 lakh. Dr Qadeer shared that the course fee can be paid in easy installments. The registration fee is Rs 49,500, and registrations will remain open until the end of June. The Rs 32 lakh package also includes insurance coverage. In a significant move, Shaheen Group and its medical partners will provide FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) coaching from the first day of the MBBS course. This ensures that students are well-prepared to obtain a license for medical practice after graduation. For more information, visit:
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? IAF pilot set to make history as India's first astronaut on the ISS
Group Captain is all set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). A decorated test pilot from the Indian Air Force and one of ISRO's four astronauts selected for India's , Shukla will serve as the pilot on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This milestone mission marks India's return to human spaceflight after more than four decades and underscores its growing presence in international space exploration. Shubhanshu Shukla's early life and education Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla completed his schooling at City Montessori School, Lucknow. Inspired by the 1999 Kargil War, he was determined to serve the nation and cleared the UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) examination. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in 2005. Later, during his astronaut training, he pursued a Master of Technology degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, showcasing his strong academic foundation in both military and scientific disciplines. Indian Air Force career Shukla was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in June 2006 as a Flying Officer in the fighter stream. Over the years, he has become a highly experienced and respected test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying time across a wide range of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and An-32. As a combat leader and experimental test pilot, Shukla's expertise in aviation made him an ideal candidate for India's emerging human spaceflight program. Shubhanshu Shukla's selection and training for the Axiom Mission 4 In 2019, Shukla was shortlisted by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) for ISRO's first astronaut training group. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After rigorous evaluation, he was selected among the final four astronauts. In 2020, he traveled to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia for basic spaceflight training, which he completed in 2021. He then returned to India for further mission-specific preparation at ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. His selection was officially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2024, during a visit to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Axiom Mission 4 Group Captain Shukla will pilot the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), an international collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and ISRO. Axiom Mission 4 is a planned private spaceflight to the International Space Station operated by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. The flight is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center no earlier than June 9, 2025, at 12:46 UTC, and will last about two to three weeks. The crew includes commander Peggy Whitson (USA), mission specialists Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Fellow vyomanaut Prasanth Nair is designated as the backup astronaut. Shukla's participation marks a historic first for India at the ISS and is a crucial step toward the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. What are the experiments he will do at the ISS? The Ax-4 mission will conduct around 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries, with seven selected by ISRO from Indian researchers. These include studies on: Growth of microalgae and cyanobacteria Muscle regeneration in microgravity Sprouting of green gram (moong) and fenugreek — aimed at future Indian space food systems Resilience of tardigrades (microscopic life forms) Seed germination in space Human-computer interaction in microgravity environments These experiments reflect India's growing interest in space biosciences and long-duration human spaceflight research. Personal life of Shubhanshu Shukla Shubhanshu Shukla is married to Dr. Kamna, a dentist, and the couple has a four-year-old son. He comes from a humble family background — his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, is a retired government officer, and his mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker. He is the youngest of three siblings. In his free time, Shukla enjoys physical exercise, reading science and space literature. As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to embark on the historic Axiom Mission 4, he not only carries the aspirations of a nation but also represents a new era in India's space journey. From the skies as a fighter pilot to the vast expanse of space, his remarkable journey reflects the power of dedication, discipline, and scientific ambition. With his mission to the ISS, Shukla is set to inspire a new generation of Indians to dream beyond the boundaries of Earth and aim for the stars.
News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
No 2020-Like Repeat Of Covid-19, Influenza A Bigger Risk: Ex-WHO Scientist Soumya Swaminathan
Last Updated: Addressing fears of another catastrophic wave, Swaminathan said periodic surges—roughly every 6-8 months—are expected, largely manageable, and low in severity Influenza, and not Covid-19, likely claims more lives each year in India and globally despite the latter dominating headlines, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), has told News18. One of the leading experts on infectious diseases, Swaminathan has reassured the public that there is 'absolutely no need to panic now". In an exclusive interview, Swaminathan told News18 that the SARS coronavirus, much like influenza, is now part of the respiratory viruses regularly circulating in the population. ' COVID or SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus, is another respiratory virus, like the many others that are circulating amongst us human beings in the world today. It has been around for five years now. It's, of course, constantly mutating and changing, like other viruses," she said. When asked whether there's a possibility of another 'Delta-like' wave making a return, she said the public needs to understand 'very clearly" that 'we will not see the repeat of 2020 or 2021. At that time, human beings had never seen this virus before". According to her, these periodic surges—roughly every 6-8 months—are expected and largely manageable. 'We have also now started seeing that periodically…There is a rise in circulating Covid-19 cases," she noted, citing data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which indicates that the Omicron variant JN.1 has recently become the dominant strain. Swaminathan, before her ground-breaking role at WHO, was the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary of the Department of Health Research in India. She, however, says that despite the increase in cases, the severity remains low. 'What you're seeing now is a mild disease mostly. Even though people are testing and reporting positivity, you find that hospitalisations are rare," she said. Swaminathan highlighted that individuals with underlying health conditions should continue to take precautions. 'People who have underlying illnesses… are likely to get a little sicker when they get a respiratory infection," she warned, adding that this applies to both Covid-19 and influenza. The flu virus may pose a greater threat than Covid-19. 'Influenza probably kills a lot more people in India and around the world… it makes a lot of sense for vulnerable people to take the flu vaccine, which gets updated every year." Addressing fears of another catastrophic wave, she assured the public: 'It will not happen that we will have a repeat of 2020 or 2021… Today, the virus cannot spread in the same way because it is met with a strong immune response." Do we need booster shots or updated vaccines? According to Swaminathan, there is a need to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of updating vaccines, especially in countries like India. 'We see that illness is mild, not requiring hospitalisation… There doesn't seem to be any reason to start a booster campaign now," she said, although she acknowledged the importance of preparing for potential future variants through continued research and updated vaccine development. She also outlined five key areas for pandemic preparedness. 'We need new legislation today that will cover biological threats like pandemics," she said, adding that 'India should have its own list of priority pathogens… and mechanisms for developing vaccines and therapeutics". Also, she said: 'Every state must have a public health cadre… It's essential to deal with so many health risks today, along with the improvement of health literacy and public engagement, which is critical." What should you do? 'Let's take sensible precautions… I see people travelling in crowded buses, trains, and planes, coughing and sneezing without a mask—that's just spreading infection." As for concerns about waning immunity, she explained, 'There are two kinds of immunity… antibodies, which decline over time, and T-cells, which have memory. The moment you are exposed again to the same virus… your immune system does its job." She emphasised that Covid-19 is now an endemic part of life. While vigilance and preparedness are necessary, panic is not. 'We can rest assured now… I would say, let's take sensible precautions… but there's no need for any panic." Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
