Clinical and metabolic features of polycystic ovary syndrome

To explore the clinical and metabolic features of Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

The clinical data of 273 Chinese women diagnosed as having PCOS were retrospectively studied.

Of these women 34.8% had hirsutism, 45.1% had acne, 94.1% had some menstrual abnormality, and 96.7% had typical appearances of polycystic ovaries on ultrasonographic examination. The prevalence of overweight women was 30.4%, and the prevalence of insulin resistance was 12.8% using the glucose to insulin ratio (GIR) and 21.6% using the homesostasis model assessment (HOMA). Body mass index was significantly correlated with fasting insulin level (r=0.50), GIR (r=0.37) and HOMA (r=0.53).

Menstrual abnormality and polycystic ovaries were the main clinical manifestations in this cohort of Chinese women with PCOS. The prevalence of hyperandrogenism, obesity, and insulin resistance was lower in this cohort than in women from other races with the same condition. Ethnic differences needs to be considered when studying the clinical and metabolic features of women with PCOS.