High DHEAS/free testosterone ratio is related to better metabolic parameters in women with PCOS

AIMS: To demonstrate the effects of DHEAS/free testosterone (DHEAS/FT) ratio on metabolic parameters in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: The data of 91 women with PCOS and 66 women in the control group were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: DHEAS/FT of the control group was higher than that of PCOS group (684.93 ± 300.54 to 517.2 ± 300.8, p < 0.001). DHEAS/FT correlated with BMI (r = -0.352, p = 0.001), WHR (r = -0.371, p = 0.0219), LDL (r = -0.227, p = 0.031), HOMA-IR (r = -0.36, p = 0.001) and FAI (r = -0.639, p = 0.001) negatively and with HDL (r = 0.344, p = 0.001) and SHBG (r = 0.646, p = 0.001) positively. In the control group, DHEAS/FT correlated with BMI (r = -0.334, p = 0.007), CRP (r = -0.297, p = 0.016) and FAI (r = -0.399, p = 0.01) negatively. CONCLUSIONS: High DHEAS/FT ratios are related to a better metabolic phenotype in women with PCOS and low levels can be used to detect women with PCOS that have a higher risk of metabolic problems.