Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes in Metformin-Treated and Non-Treated PCOS Women: A Comparative Analysis

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrinal disorders in the reproductive age of women and is, therefore, a risk factor for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). One of the medications used in the management of PCOS is metformin and its use has been proposed to decrease the occurrence of GDM. The purpose of this study focuses on the effects of the dose and duration of metformin treatment on the prevalence of GDM among pregnant women affected by PCOS. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 112 pregnant women diagnosed with PCOS in tertiary care hospitals in Karachi. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, in which 55 patients received metformin and others did not receive metformin. Both groups were compared for the prevalence of GDM. Chi-square test was used in data analysis at a significance level of p < 0. 05. Results: GDM was found to be significantly higher in non-metformin group than metformin group (60% vs 40%, P=0.03). The data analysis extended this finding, which concluded that metformin use is inversely related to GDM risk (p = 0.02). Conclusion: This study shows that metformin therapy reduces the incidence of GDM in pregnant PCOS patients and may be used to prevent GDM in such patients. Such outcomes indicate the possibility of the use of metformin as a means of preventing GDM in this group of patients.