Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2026;32(2):115-120. doi: 10.5114/pedm.2026.161348.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder associated with increased obstetric complications. However, its impact on the neurodevelopment of preterm neonates remains underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings. The study aimed to assess the association between maternal PCOS and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm neonates.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted at Azadi Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk, Iraq, from June 2023 to June 2025. A total of 200 women with preterm labor were enrolled and divided into two groups – Group A (PCOS, n = 100) and Group B (non-PCOS, n = 100) – based on the Rotterdam criteria. Neonatal outcomes – including gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leukomalacia, seizures, and neurodevelopment – were assessed. Neurodevelopmental evaluation was performed at 6, 12, and 24 months using the Denver II screening test. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of developmental delay.
RESULTS: Neonates born to mothers with PCOS had significantly lower birth weights, longer NICU stays, higher rates of IVH and seizures, and lower Apgar scores. Developmental delays – particularly in fine motor, language, and gross motor domains – were significantly more prevalent in the PCOS group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified maternal PCOS, NICU stay, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance, IVH, and 1-minute Apgar score as independent predictors of neurodevelopmental delay.
CONCLUSIONS: Maternal PCOS is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm neonates. Targeted screening and follow-up are necessary for women at high risk.
PMID:42704854 | DOI:10.5114/pedm.2026.161348
