[Obesity, arterial hypertension, metabolic disorders, and polycystic ovary syndrome]

To determine the prevalence of central and general obesity, arterial hypertension, and alterations in cholesterol, triglycerids, glycaemia and uric acid levels in patients with PCOS and to compare them with women who do not present this syndrome. To establish the possible association of this with the PCOS.

This is a transversal analytic study. It includes fifty-five cases of PCOS and fifty-five healthy controls from gynecologic and familiar medicine consultation during the period from May 2nd to November 30th, 1999. It excludes patients with the Cushing disease, congenital suprarenal hyperplasia, pregnant women or women under hormonal treatments until three months prior the beginning of the study. The diagnostic of PCOS was established when the patient presents three of the following characteristics: menstrual disturbances, hirsutism, a LH/FSH relation > or = than 1.5 and ultrasound with polycystic ovaries. Their weight and height was taken in order to calculate the body mass index (BMI) and the waist/hip index (WHI) Blood samples in fasting where obtained to determine the FSH, LH, cholesterol, triglycerids, glycaemia and uric acid levels. Descriptive statistics where applied as well as the SPSS software along with the Saphiro-Francia test, the Mann Whitney test and logistic regression.

The age of the patients with PCOS varied between 18 and 39 years old, average 26.6 years old and that of the controls from 19 to 39 years old, average 28.2 years old, (p = 0.165). The prevalence of general obesity (BMI > or = 30) was of 50.9% in the group of PCOS and of 18.2% in the group of controls. The systolic hypertension (BP > or = 140 mm Hg) was of 9% against 7.3%. A diastolic hypertension (BP > or = 90 mm Hg) of 25.5% against 7.3%. A hypercholesterolemia (> or = 220 mg/dL) of 30.9% against 10.9%. A hypertriglyceridemia (> or = 160 mg/dL) of 30.9% against 16.4%. A hyperglycaemia(> or = 115 mg/dL) of 5.5% against 3.6% and a hyperuricemia(> or = 6.5 mg/L) of 23.6% against 3.6%. The OR calculated through cross products showed that patients with PCOS have the possibility of presenting obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia and diastolic hypertension, 4.6, 3.7, 2.3, 8.2 and 4.4 times more than the controls. The comparison of the average of the variables of both groups showed significant differences (p < 0.5) for the BMI, WHI, systolic BP, cholesterol and uric acid. The multiple logistic regression showed a consistent association between PCOS and hyperuricemia (MR = 5.23, = 1.4-26.26), obesity (MR = 3.26, CI = 1.33-8.01) and hypercholesterolemia (RM = 3.04, CI = 1.02-9.08).

The study showed a higher prevalence of obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia and diastolic hypertension in patients with PCOS than in the controls. No such thing for hyperglycaemia and systolic hypertension. Nevertheless, there are significant differences between both groups related to the BMI, WHI, systolic hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperuricemia. A consistent association among the PCOS and hypercholesterolemia, obesity and hyperuricemia was found.