Table 4 Adjusted association of PCOS risk with sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, access to health care, and health status of the included women (N = 1068)

Demographic and socioeconomic factors

Age (years)

0.002

From 18 to less than 23

0.84 (0.33, 2.14)

0.720

2.88 (0.26, 32.12)

0.390

6.32 (2.01, 19.82)

0.002

From 23 to less than 30

1.14 (0.51, 2.56)

0.748

1.48 (0.19, 11.75)

0.708

6.31 (2.36, 16.81)

< 0.001

From 30 to less than 40

0.71 (0.35, 1.44)

0.341

0.58 (0.08, 4.03)

0.579

5.39 (2.25, 12.95)

< 0.001

From 40 to less than 50

0.85 (0.49, 1.79)

0.851

0.42 (0.06, 2.95)

0.383

3.29 (1.44, 7.55)

0.005

> 50

Reference group

Marital status

0.167

Single

1.51 (0.69, 3.32)

0.302

0.38 (0.057, 2.66)

0.333

1.82 (0.68, 4.87)

0.236

Married

0.97 (0.51, 1.83)

0.924

0.31 (0.06, 1.57)

0.157

2.05 (0.88, 4.78)

0.095

Divorced/widowed

Reference group

Pregnancy

0.737

Not pregnant

1.34 (0.54, 3.34)

0.528

0.61 (0.09, 4.04)

0.607

1.45 (0.59, 3.55)

0.417

Pregnant

Reference group

Educational level

0.914

Less than or quals to high school

0.75 (0.35, 1.62)

0.751

0.64 (0.27, 1.49)

0.301

1.20 (0.10, 14.58)

0.301

Bachelor’s degree

0.73 (0.37, 1.44)

0.361

0.61 (0.29, 1.28)

0.187

1.19 (0.11, 12.50)

0.187

Postgraduate

Reference group

Occupation

0.376

Student

1.14 (0.45, 2.94)

0.781

0.80 (0.24, 2.73)

0.725

0.80 (0.24, 2.73)

0.725

Employed in governmental sector

0.80 (0.36, 1.76)

0.572

1.29 (0.46, 3.62)

0.634

1.29 (0.46, 3.62)

0.634

Employed in private sector/business

1.11 (0.47, 2.66)

0.811

1.08 (0.34, 3.39)

0.896

1.08 (0.34, 3.39)

0.896

Housewife

1.50 (0.69, 3.25)

0.309

5.74 (0.48, 69.22)

0.169

1.27 (0.45, 3.59)

0.654

Unemployed and looking for a job

1.55 (0.59, 4.04)

0.372

4.60 (0.26, 82.20)

0.300

1.87 (0.57, 6.22)

0.305

Retired

Reference group

Region of residence

0.005

Central province

0.85 (0.43, 1.68)

0.639

0.75 (0.15, 3.79)

0.732

0.91(0.45, 1.78)

0.772

Eastern province

0.93 (0.45, 1.93)

0.846

0.21 (0.03, 1.64)

0.137

0.41 (0.19, 0.91)

0.028

Western province

0.83 (0.40, 1.70)

0.604

0.96 (0.17, 5.36)

0.964

0.48 (0.22, 1.03)

0.060

Northern province

1.76 (0.79, 3.91)

0.168

0.80 (0.10, 6.80)

0.840

0.99 (0.41, 2.37)

0.982

Southern province

Reference group

Urban or rural

0.398

Urban

1.41 (0.43, 1.68)

0.275

1.01 (0.20, 4.99)

0.992

0.78 (0.41, 1.47)

0.441

Rural

Reference group

Income status

0.054

Enough and can save money

0.61(0.34, 1.11)

0.104

3.59 (0.38, 33.67)

0.263

1.189 (0.58, 2.45)

0.640

Enough

0.54 (0.32, 0.92)

0.024

3.98 (0.47, 34.06)

0.207

1.09 (0.56, 2.11)

0.798

Not enough

0.99 (0.49, 1.98)

0.977

5.11 (0.48, 54.23)

0.176

0.89 (0.37, 2.15)

0.789

Not enough and have a debt

Reference group

Nationality

0.736

Saudi

1.24 (0.69, 2.22)

0.469

2.16 (0.41, 11.21)

0.362

1.19 (0.59, 2.42)

0.626

Non-Saudi

Reference group

Access to healthcare

Medical insurance status

0.242

Have medical insurance

1.39 (0.94 2.06)

0.099

2.05 (0.7, 5.77)

0.173

1.28 (0.83, 1.97)

0.270

Non-insured & use public hospitals and clinics

1.36 (0.94, 1.97)

0.104

1.33 (0.46, 3.84)

0.595

0.89 (0.57, 1.37)

0.582

Non-insured & use private hospitals and clinics (out-of-pocket)

Reference group

Health behaviors

Smoking status

0.092

Current smoker

0.78 (0.34, 1.79)

0.551

3.44 (0.74, 16.02)

0.116

1.64 (0.71, 3.79)

0.25

Past smoker

0.93 (0.35, 2.48)

0.885

5.93 (1.31, 26.91)

0.021

0.59 (0.14, 2.42)

0.46

Non-smoker

Reference group

Following a healthy diet

0.295

Yes

Reference group

No

1.22 (0.83, 1.79)

0.309

2.82 (0.82, 9.68)

0.099

1.12 (0.73, 1.74)

0.598

Exercises/physical activities

0.279

No exercises

0.79 (0.44, 1.43)

0.793

0.56 (0.15, 2.19)

0.406

1.43 (0.66, 3.10)

0.361

1 or 2 times per week

0.72 (0.40, 1.31)

0.227

0.23 (0.05 1.06)

0.059

1.38 (0.63, 3.00)

0.418

3 or 4 times per week

1.15 (0.61, 2.17)

0.674

0.46 (0.10, 2.22)

0.336

1.65 (0.72, 3.78)

0.235

≥ 5 times per week

Reference group

Health status and medication use

Weight status based on body mass index (BMI)

< 0.001

Underweight

0.35 (0.18, 0.68)

0.002

0.26 (0.02, 2.74)

0.260

0.37 (0.17, 0.79)

Normal weight

0.43 (0.27, 0.69)

< 0.001

0.88 (0.24, 3.20)

0.850

0.29, (0.17, 0.49)

Overweight

0.53 (0.33, 0.83)

0.006

1.27 (0.35, 4.65)

0.720

0.45 (0.27, 0.74)

Obese

Reference group

Presence of chronic physical illnesses

0.017

Yes

1.59 (1.04, 2.42)

0.031

1.54 (0.53, 4.53)

0.427

2.01 (1.28, 3.16)

0.002

No

Reference group

Presence of chronic psychological illnesses

0.024

Yes

1.71 (1.01, 2.88)

0.046

3.06 (1.06, 8.84)

0.039

2.12 (1.19, 3.16)

0.010

No

Reference group

Medications use

0.078

Yes

1.00 (0.66, 1.52)

0.995

1.58 (0.55, 4.55)

0.393

1.67 (1.07, 2.61)

0.023

No

Reference group

Herbal remedies use

0.003

Yes

1.34 (0.86, 2.11)

0.201

0.29 (0.04, 2.28)

0.239

2.15 (1.34, 3.43)

0.001

No

Reference group