The Frequency of Metabolic Syndrome Is Higher Among Brazilian Women With PCOS, Menstrual Irregularity, and Hyperandrogenism
December 2011
in “
Reproductive Sciences
”
TLDR Brazilian women with PCOS and both menstrual irregularity and high male hormone levels have a higher chance of having metabolic syndrome.
The study involving 372 Brazilian women of reproductive age indicated that those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and exhibiting both menstrual irregularity (MI) and hyperandrogenism (H) had a higher frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) compared to a control group without PCOS. Out of the 226 women with PCOS, they were categorized into four groups based on their symptoms, and MetS frequencies were found to be significantly higher in these groups (ranging from 33.3% to 45.4%) than in the control group (8.2%). Body mass index (BMI) and the presence of MI + H were identified as independent predictors for the occurrence of MetS. The study concluded that while the frequency of MetS is similar across different PCOS phenotypes, BMI and MI + H are more predictive of MetS, suggesting that all women with PCOS, regardless of specific symptoms, have an elevated risk of MetS and potentially cardiovascular events.
