A survey of metabolic syndrome in first-degree relatives (fathers) of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Objectives: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are at twice the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, compared to women from the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the first-degree relatives (fathers) of patients suffering from PCOS.Design: This was a case control study.Setting and subjects: The study was conducted on 34 fathers of women with PCOS who presented at gynaecological clinics in Shiraz, Iran (as the case group), and 34 fathers of healthy women (as the control group).Outcomes measures: Metabolic syndrome was determined according to Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indices. A blood sample was obtained to assay serum insulin, blood sugar, testosterone and lipoproteins. The data were analysed using independent t-test, Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test.Results: According to the ATP III index, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 29.35% in the fathers of the PCOS patients and 8.8% in the fathers of women in the control group (p-value < 0.05). According to the IDF index, this rate was 17.41 in the fathers of patients with PCOS (p-value < 0.05). According to the quantitative insulin sensitivity check and homeostasis model insulin resistance indices, the prevalence of insulin resistance, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia was higher in the fathers of patients with PCOS than in the control group, but the difference was not significant (p-value > 0.05).Conclusion: The fathers of the women with PCOS were at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes.