Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34113798›Full record

ArticleCardiovascular endocrinology & metabolism2021

Investigation of polycystic ovarian syndrome: variation in practice and impact on the speed of diagnosis.

Amar M Karia, Christopher J Duff, Adrian H Heald, Ingrid Britton, Anthony A Fryer, Pensée Wu

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cardiovascular endocrinology & metabolism, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 44% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Amar M KariaAcademic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternity Centre, University Hospital of North Midlands.
Christopher J DuffDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital of North Midlands.
Adrian H HealdThe School of Medicine and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester.
Ingrid BrittonDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital of North Midlands.
Anthony A FryerDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital of North Midlands.
Pensée WuAcademic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternity Centre, University Hospital of North Midlands.
Keele University · GBUniversity Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust · GBManchester Academic Health Science Centre · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAccurate diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) enables clinical interventions/cardiometabolic risk factor management. Diagnosis can take over 2 years and multiple clinician contacts. We examined patterns of PCOS-associated biochemical investigations following initial consultation prior to pelvic ultrasound scan (USS).

methodsWe determined in 206 women (i) the range of different biochemical test panels used in the diagnosis of PCOS in primary/secondary care prior to USS relative to national guidance in the UK and (ii) the relation between testing patterns and time to USS to highlight potential delays introduced by inappropriate testing.

resultsIn these 206 women, 47 different test combinations were requested at initial venepuncture; only 7 (3%) had the test panel suggested in UK guidance (follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone/testosterone/sex hormone-binding globulin/prolactin). The number of tests performed prior to USS varied from one test to all seven tests. There was an inverse relation between the number of biochemistry tests requested at initial venepuncture episode and 'time to scan'. Those who had <3 tests had a significantly longer time from first request to USS (median 70 days) than those with 3-7 tests (median 40 days;

conclusionThere was no identifiable pattern to biochemical investigations requested as part of the initial diagnostic evaluation in women with suspected PCOS. We recommend standardization of the initial biochemical panel of analytes for PCOS workup, with incorporation into hospital/general practice ordering software systems.

Indexed as

clinical biochemistrydiagnosisguidelineshormone testslaboratory test utilizationpelvic ultrasound scanpolycystic ovaries

Identifiers

PMID34113798
PMCPMC8186510
OpenAlexW3134606223

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.