TLDR Greek women with PCOS have a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and are more likely to be overweight compared to healthy controls.
In a study involving 230 Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 155 age-matched healthy controls, it was found that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was significantly higher in the PCOS group at 12.6%, compared to 1.9% in the control group. Women with PCOS also had higher body mass index (BMI) and were more likely to be overweight or obese, with 42.6% of the PCOS group being overweight or obese compared to 21.9% of the control group. The study concluded that Greek women with PCOS are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), emphasizing the importance of periodic screening and lifestyle interventions. However, the study had a limitation due to the relatively small sample size.
815 citations,
April 2010 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Women with PCOS should be screened for heart disease risk and manage their health to prevent it.
278 citations,
August 2004 in “Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology” Polycystic ovaries are defined by having 12 or more small follicles in each ovary and are found in up to 33% of women, while Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age, potentially increasing risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases.
4025 citations,
December 2003 in “Human Reproduction” The 2003 consensus updated PCOS diagnosis criteria and linked PCOS to higher risks of diabetes and heart problems, recommending lifestyle changes to lower these risks.
2 citations,
May 2023 in “Current Nutrition Reports” Eating a Mediterranean diet and taking certain supplements may improve symptoms of PCOS.
1 citations,
February 2018 in “InTech eBooks” PCOS in lean women is a serious health condition with implications beyond fertility, affecting metabolism and increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
111 citations,
November 2010 in “Human Reproduction” South Asian women with PCOS are more likely to have metabolic issues and central obesity, and simple measures like waist size and blood pressure can help identify these risks early.
15 citations,
January 2015 in “Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine” Taiwanese women with PCOS experience different symptoms based on age, with younger women facing more hormone imbalances and older women dealing with more metabolic issues.
1514 citations,
December 2011 in “Fertility and sterility” Experts agree that PCOS affects women's health in complex ways, but more research is needed to understand and treat it effectively.
