Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its subtypes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), determine its associated factors, and compare the quality of life (QOL) of PCOS patients with and without IBS. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2021 and June 2021 on patients attending outpatient family medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology clinics at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants comprised women aged >= 18 years with a confirmed PCOS diagnosis. They completed an online questionnaire about their sociodemographic information, body mass index, the Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire (R4DQ), and IBS-QOL questionnaire; the Bristol Stool Scale was also used. Results: Of the 291 participants, the majority (92.4%) was below 45 years old, 61.9% were unmarried, and 47.8% were students. IBS was diagnosed in 49 (16.8%) patients, which was associated with poor sleep quality (p = 0.005) and emotional stress (p = 0.006). IBS-constipation and IBSdiarrhea accounted for 24.5% and 12.2% of participants, respectively. In PCOS patients, the IBS subgroup obtained the lowest QOL scores (p = 0.009). In addition, a low QOL score was associated with dysphoria (p < 0.001), interference with activity (p < 0.02), and relationship (p < 0.003). Conclusion: Women who have PCOS are more likely to suffer from IBS. Poor sleep quality and emotional stress are two factors that contribute to IBS development. Both conditions have a significantly lower quality of life, particularly those affected by dysphoria, interference with activity, and interpersonal relationships.