Basic anthropometric characteristics and their relationship with the metabolism of saccharides in women with PCOS

AIM OF STUDY: To determine basic anthropometric characteristics and their relationship with the metabolism of saccharides in women with PCOS in the Olomouc region. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective study of the results of 72 women with PCOS examined in the endocrinology clinic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study entailed the processing of data gained on the basis of examination of women sent to endocrinology clinic for examination in the years 2008-2010, who corresponded to the diagnostic criteria for PCOS according to the Rotterdam consensus. The obtained results of anthropometric measurement and characteristic saccharide metabolism were compared with a group of healthy women. RESULTS: In groups of women of comparable age (PCOS average age 31.6, control group average age 31.4) the average BMI in women with PCOS was 26.76 kg m(-2), the average waist measurement was 84.43 cm, the waist/hips ratio was 0.79, in the control group the average BMI was 24.73 kg m(-2), the waist/hips ratio was 0.76, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant difference between women with PCOS and the healthy control group in C peptide values, even in comparable anthropometric parameters. Levels of fasting glycaemia and glycated haemoglobin were comparable. Waist measurement, as a parameter for evaluating the level of visceral accumulation of fat in women with PCOS, was related to all monitored characteristics of saccharide metabolism (statistically significant correlation with fasting glycaemia, glycated haemoglobin and C peptide). Unlike the waist measurement, the waist/hips ratio indicated a smaller percentage of women with abnormal obesity in both groups, in women with PCOS it correlated with fasting glycaemia and C peptide. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our results it can be stated that women with PCOS do not necessarily differ from the healthy control group in anthropometric parameters. However, with comparable age, BMI and level of visceral obesity, women with PCOS require a greater amount of insulin to maintain normoglycaemia than healthy women.