Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: PCOS is common in Tunisia. It is characterized by the high frequency of clinical and metabolic abnormalities associated with cardiovascular risk. The aim of our work was to describe the clinico-metabolic profile of a Tunisian women population with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Methods: This is a prospective study conducted on 53 Tunisian patients with PCOS, referred by their gynecologist to the Obesity Unit of A departement of the National Institute of Nutrition of Tunis, to take charge of their obesity.Clinical and biological data were collected through careful interrogation and clinical examination and referring to medical records.

Results: The average age was 29.6±3.2 years. 9.4% were active smokers. All patients were obese with an average BMI of 33.6±1.2 kh/m². Obesity was visceral in 100% of cases with a mean waist circumference of 96.6±4.2 cm. Menstrual disorders were reported by 84.9% of patients. Clinically, 39.6% of patients had acanthosis nigricans, 75.4% had hirsutism. 35.8% were hypertensive. Dyslipidemia and carbohydrate tolerance disorders were found in 28.3% and 43.3%, respectively. Acanthosis nigricans were significantly correlated with BMI (P=0.001), as was hirsutism (P=0.004), hypertension (P=0.019) and carbohydrate tolerance disorders (P=0.023).

Conclusion: Our results are concur with those of the literature concerning the frequency of clinico-metabolic abnormalities in patients with PCOS. The detection of metabolic abnormalities and their management will improve the cardiovascular prognosis of these patients.