The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in the Different Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE:  To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS:  This was a cross-sectional study involving 111 women aged between 18 and 39 years old diagnosed with PCOS, according to the Rotterdam Criteria, and grouped into four phenotypes: A: ovulatory dysfunction + hyperandrogenism + polycystic ovaries; B: ovulatory dysfunction + hyperandrogenism; C: hyperandrogenism + polycystic ovaries; D: ovulatory dysfunction + polycystic ovaries. To evaluate the presence of MetS, we measured serum triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, and waist circumference.

RESULTS:  The prevalence of MetS found in this sample was 33.6%, and there was no statistically significant difference ( p  < 0.05) among the 4 phenotypes. However, phenotype D presented a significantly higher mean glucose level after fasting (93.6 mg/dL) and 2 hours after ingesting a solution with 75 g of anhydrous glucose (120 mg/dL), as well as the lowest mean level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (44.7 mg/dL). The women in this group demonstrated a high prevalence of abdominal circumference ≥ 80 cm (68.2%), as well as the highest mean abdominal circumference (90.1 cm). Amongst the women with an abdominal circumference ≥ 80 cm, phenotype A increased approximately six-fold the chance of developing metabolic syndrome in relation to phenotype C.

CONCLUSION:  The four phenotypes of PCOS demonstrated similar prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome; abdominal obesity presented a relevant role in the development of metabolic alterations, regardless of the phenotype.