Pharmacological Approaches to Controlling Cardiometabolic Risk in Women with PCOS

The document discussed the pharmacological approaches to managing cardiometabolic risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which was associated with increased androgen production and changes in cardiovascular and metabolic risk markers. Women with PCOS showed higher levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin compared to fertile women, leading to an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease later in life. Treatments included aldosterone antagonists, androgen receptor antagonists, 5α-reductase inhibitors, synthetic progestogens, metformin, and inositols, which aimed to reduce hyperandrogenism and improve insulin sensitivity. Combined oral contraceptives were the preferred treatment for androgen-related symptoms. The management of PCOS focused on assessing and treating cardiometabolic risk based on disease phenotypes, balancing efficacy and safety of medications for individual patients.