Association between the polycystic ovary syndrome and the metabolic syndrome in Puerto Rico

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects mostly young women causing chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, hirsutism and obesity with android pattern. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (abnormal glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, hypertension and increased waist circumference) in PCOS is not defined although both have a common etiologic factor: insulin resistance. This retrospective study from medical records examined the presence of obesity and features of the metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS. The metabolic syndrome was defined as presence of two or more of the following signs: abnormal glucose metabolism, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL, and hypertension. Thirty nine records of patients with PCOS were reviewed. The mean age was 29.4 years and the body mass index was 36 kg/m2. Hypertriglyceridemia was present in 43%, low HDL in 71%, hypertension in 36%, impaired glucose tolerance in 10% and diabetes mellitus type 2 in 37%. The metabolic syndrome was identified in 44% of sampled women with PCOS. These findings indicate that women with PCOS are at increased risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 at a young age. PCOS patients have higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome than the rest of the population and thus are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease even if they don't develop diabetes mellitus type 2.