MEN who have sisters diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at a significantly higher risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, according to a new study.
Researchers analysed data from over 1 million Swedish men born between 1973 and 2013, comparing cardiometabolic outcomes in those with a sister diagnosed with PCOS to those with unaffected sisters. The study found that men with a PCOS-affected sister had twice the risk of developing obesity (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.02), and were also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (aHR 1.62) and hypertension (aHR 1.24).
In a subgroup of nearly 148,000 men assessed between the ages of 18 and 20, those with a sister with PCOS were more likely to be overweight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.33) or obese (aOR 1.78), although no significant association with elevated blood pressure was observed at this age.
These findings suggest that the metabolic consequences of PCOS may extend beyond affected women to their male relatives, possibly due to shared genetic or environmental factors. The authors suggest that men with a family history of PCOS could benefit from early lifestyle interventions and cardiometabolic screening.
This study is among the largest to date to examine the familial impact of PCOS on male health, offering new insights into the broader implications of this common endocrine disorder.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Kanina A et al. Adverse Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Men With Sisters With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. JCEM. 2025;DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf121.
