Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition affecting up to 20% of reproductive-aged women. PCOS is associated with obesity and serious metabolic complications. There is a lack of research evaluating differences in metabolic complications between hyperandrogenic physically active and inactive individuals.

Objective: We used a cross-sectional study to compare the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, visceral adipose index, and insulin resistance between normoandrogenic, hyperandrogenic, and healthy women, as well as hyperandrogenic active and inactive women.

Participants and design: A total of 259 women aged 20–35, of which 148 had PCOS and 111 were healthy age-matched controls. Anthropometric parameters were calculated and hormonal and biochemical assays were performed in all patients. Physical activity (PA) level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and each participant was classed as inactive or active.

Results: We found an association between free androgen index and PA in hyperandrogenic PCOS women, but not in normoandrogenic or healthy women. Hyperandrogenic individuals presented higher odds ratios of obesity (7.3 times, P< 0.001), metabolic syndrome (9 times, P< 0.001), and insulin resistance (3.84 times, P< 0.001) than the normoandrogenic women. Furthermore, hyperandrogenic women who performed at least 7.5 MET × h × week^-1 of physical activity had lower odds ratios of obesity (5.67 times; P< 0.001), MS (5.69 times; P< 0.001), and insulin resistance (2.99 times; P< 0.005) than inactive hyperandrogenic individuals.

Conclusion: Physical activity should be recommended as an important element for health improvement supporting pharmacotherapy, especially in hyperandrogenic PCOS women.