Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Consensus Statement by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (AE-PCOS) Society

The 2010 consensus statement by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (AE-PCOS) Society concluded that women with PCOS are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly if they have additional risk factors such as obesity, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, and subclinical vascular disease. The statement recommended comprehensive screening for CVD risk factors in women with PCOS, including body mass index, waist circumference, serum lipid/glucose levels, and blood pressure, with oral glucose tolerance testing for those at higher risk. Lifestyle management was advised as the primary prevention strategy for CVD, with the potential addition of insulin-sensitizing and other drugs if necessary. The document also noted the presence of mood disorders as independent risk factors for CVD in PCOS patients and suggested that early and ongoing CVD risk assessment and prevention are crucial. It mentioned the inconsistent data on metformin's effects on CVD prevention, the potential benefits of statins, and the options of antihypertensives, antiobesity drugs, and bariatric surgery for weight management. The guidelines provided are not guaranteed to ensure specific outcomes or establish standards of care.