Cardiovascular risk factors in young Czech females with polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) could be associated with a variety of signs of metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study was to compare the cardiovascular risk factors in PCOS women and in a control group selected from a random population sample. METHODS AND RESULTS: 50 PCOS women with a mean (6SD) age of 30.7 6 4.2 years and 335 controls with a mean age of 29.9 6 3.1 years selected from a random population sample of nine districts of the Czech Republic were compared for basic anthropometric characteristics blood pressure plasma lipids and fasting glucose. PCOS women had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI). After adjusting for BMI PCOS women had higher blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol and lower HDL and HDL-cholesterol/ total ratio. Arterial hypertension was more prevalent in PCOS women than in controls. There was no difference in the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose between both groups. Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 11.8% of PCOS women. Diabetes mellitus was more frequent in PCOS families. CONCLUSIONS: Czech PCOS women even in their thirties show a significantly worse cardiovascular risk profile than a control group selected from a random population sample. The differences cannot be explained by obesity. (authors)