Endocrine Abstracts

PCOS is defined by the presence of hyperandrogenism (clinical and/or biochemical), ovarian dysfunction (oligo-anovulation and/or polycystic ovaries), and exclusion of related disorders. Obesity as a common feature with approximately 33% of women being obese compared with 20% in the general population. We report the analysis of 26 patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), mean age 36 (range 21–53), attending the endocrine clinic, using both electronic database and hospital notes. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to determine the patient profile, including anthropometrics and the cardiovascular risk factors on presentation.

Fifty percent of patients (n=13) were obese, mean BMI 30 (range 19–40) on presentation, hirsutism 65% (n=17), galactorrhoea 30% (n=8), oligomenorrhoea 19% (n=5), secondary amenorrhoea 15% (n=4), androgenic alopecia 15% (n=4), subfertility 11% (n=3) and acne 3% (n=1). 77% (n=20) did not exercise, only 7% (n=2) had seen a dietician, 30% (n=8) were smoking and 46% (n=12) were drinking alcohol; none of them had bariatric surgery or psychological treatment in the past, despite 19% (n=5) with mental health problems.

Prevalence of hypertension was 26% (n=7), with mean systolic blood pressure 129 (112–149 mmHg) and mean diastolic blood pressure 83 (66–98), mean glucose 4.8 (3.3–6.5 mmol/l), 7% (n=2) had diabetes mellitus, mean total cholestrol 4.74 (2.32–7.95), mean LDL 2 (1.04–4.21), mean triglyceride 1.93 (0.41–7.21), mean HDL 1.5 (0.67–2.76), mean total cholesterol/HDL ratio 3.47 (1.4–11.9); none of them had impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glycaemia or history of cardiovascular disorders or cerebrovascular events, sleep apnoea or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

These results reinforce the importance of obesity counselling in adolescence and screening of cardiovascular risk factors to reduce the possible risk of future cardiovascular disease in these young women with PCOS. Multi-disciplinary programmes, including dietary and educational counselling, exercise training, stress management and psychosocial support might represent the gold standard for adequate reduction of cardiovascular risk in young women with PCOS.