Metabolic Implications of PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition among women, with associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. While there are limitations to both the diagnosis of PCOS and cardiometabolic disease within adolescence, there is evidence that adolescents with PCOS have greater risk for insulin resistance, cardiovascular and adipose tissue dysfunction, and hepatic steatosis. This review aims to explore the risk of metabolic disease in adolescents with PCOS and its association with disease phenotypes, offering insight into the evolution of this metabolic risk into adulthood. These findings reinforce the critical need for timely diagnosis of PCOS, combined with targeted lifestyle interventions, to mitigate cardiometabolic risk and shift the trajectory of long-term health outcomes.