PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with obesity, but the prevalence of the syndrome in obese patients is not well established.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of PCOS among overweight and obese premenopausal women and to evaluate the possible associations between the syndrome and metabolic disturbances in obese patients.

METHODS

Medical records of all women referred to a single endocrine center because of obesity and/or metabolic disturbances during a three-year period were analyzed. A total of 262 overweight and obese patients of reproductive age were included in the retrospective study.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria in the group of overweight and obese women was 26%. The degree of obesity did not influence the PCOS prevalence. Women with PCOS had higher blood glucose and insulin levels after glucose load in comparison to other obese patients despite the younger age.

CONCLUSIONS

PCOS is a common finding among obese women seeking endocrine help. The oral glucose tolerance test is an important tool for the early detection of carbohydrate disorders in women with the syndrome. Furthermore, screening for PCOS components might be justified in young obese women with pronounced insulin resistance or dysglycemia.