Is There a Difference in Hirsutism Score in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescents Based on Ethnicity and Race?

BACKGROUND: The complex correlation between ethnicity and race, clinical hyperandrogenism as signified by hirsutism, and biochemical androgen concentrations in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is poorly understood.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study aims to define the correlation between ethnicity/race and hirsutism score in patients with PCOS.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of a total of 251 patients with PCOS at the time of diagnosis. Patients were categorized by their ethnicity and race into five main groups: Asian (n=19, 7.6%), Black or African American (n=11, 4.4%), Hispanic or Latino (n=26, 10.3%), White (n=177, 70.5) and others (n=18, 7.2%). General Linear Model was applied using BlueSky Software.

RESULTS: For the entire study population, the mean age at diagnosis was (15.6±1.7), the mean body mass index (BMI) was (30.6±9.8), the mean hirsutism score using the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) score chart was (6.2±3.8), and the mean total testosterone was (40.1±20). The hirsutism score was the highest in Asian population (mean=9.1, p=0.002) and Hispanic or Latino population (mean=7.8, p=0.02) followed by others (mean=7.4, p=0.04) and Black or African American population (mean=7.1, p=0.2) compared to White population (mean=5.4). This correlation remained significant despite accounting for BMI and androgen levels (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: There are factors likely related to hair follicle sensitivity or endogenous response to circulating free androgens that differ between ethnicities and races, such that similar biochemical concentrations lead to differing severity of hirsutism, despite accounting for differences in BMI and androgen levels. More research is needed in this realm to understand the pathophysiologic basis of this interaction.