Prevalence and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To find out the prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among females presenting with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in a tertiary care setting.METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December 2022.A total of 277 non-pregnant females aged 18-35 years and diagnosed with PCOS presenting in the outpatient department were analyzed.Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the AHA/NHLBI (ATP III) definition, while PCOS was labeled as per Rotterdam consensus guidelines.Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors were noted.RESULTS: In a total of 277 women with PCOS, the mean age was 27.4±5.6years, while 149 (53.8%) women were aged between 18 and 25.The residential status of 189 (68.2%) women was rural.There were 81 (29.2%) women with PCOS who were found to have metabolic syndrome.Waist circumference ≥ 80 cm (p=0.0031),HDL cholesterol < 50 mg/dl (p<0.0001),triglyceride ≥ 150 mg/dl (p<0.0001),hypertension (p<0.0001) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) > 110 mg/dl (p<0.0001) were having significant association with the presence of metabolic syndrome.CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Central obesity, hypertension and abnormal levels of FBG, triglyceride and highdensity lipoprotein were found to have a significant association with MBS among women with PCOS.