Correlates of Health Satisfaction in a Web-Based Sample Enriched for Self-Reported Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), named polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome by a 2026 global consensus, combines metabolic, dermatological and psychological features. We examined which clinical, anthropometric and symptom-related characteristics were associated with health satisfaction in a web-based sample enriched for self-reported PCOS. Methods: Cross-sectional web-based survey using a Romanian-language questionnaire (October–November 2023). Of 212 submissions retained after integrity screening, 159 (75.0%) reported a previous diagnosis of PCOS. Health satisfaction (study-specific five-point item) was analysed with proportional-odds ordinal regression including seven covariates, irrespective of diagnostic status (n = 194). Sensitivity analyses restricted the model to respondents reporting a diagnosis, adjusted for diagnostic status or sociodemographic characteristics and retained all submissions. Results: Lower health satisfaction was associated with higher body mass index (OR 0.92 per kg/m2; 95% CI 0.87–0.97), self-reported hirsutism (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.24–0.76) and reported anxiety (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.28–0.87; reference group mostly “do not know/no answer”). Estimates changed little after these adjustments or with all submissions; among respondents reporting a diagnosis (n = 145), the estimates for self-reported hirsutism and reported anxiety were attenuated and imprecise. Age, menstrual irregularity, infertility diagnosis and dysmenorrhea severity showed no statistically detectable association. Conclusions: These exploratory, mutually adjusted associations involve higher body mass index, self-reported hirsutism and endorsement of the questionnaire’s anxiety option; the last reflects a response contrast, not clinically assessed anxiety. They warrant confirmation in clinically characterised cohorts using validated instruments.
Authors
- Alberto Emanuel Bacușcă (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8965-4072)
- Agnes Iacinta Bacușcă
- Antoneta Dacia Petroaie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1239-8058)
- Elena Popa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2207-5129)
- Mihaela Manole (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4138-2610)
- Ana Maria Slănină (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6456-9744)
- Elena Teona Coșovanu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5166-1970)
- Elena Adorata Coman
- Elena Domnica Bacușcă
Institutions
- Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Healthcare
- Published
- 2026-10-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14213635
- Primary Topic
- Ovarian function and disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00