Young women with PCOS had significantly increased carotid intima-media thickness compared to healthy matched controls (0.58 vs. 0.47 mm, P < 0.001), indicating early subclinical atherosclerosis.
Case-Control (n=130)
Does polycystic ovary syndrome increase carotid intima-media thickness in young women?
Young women with PCOS exhibit greater carotid IMT and an early increase in cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting premature subclinical atherosclerosis.
Absolute Event Rate: 0.58% vs 0.47%
p-value: p=< 0.001
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrinopathy of women of reproductive age, is associated with the early appearance of multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. However, premature atherosclerosis of the carotid artery has not yet been demonstrated in young women with PCOS. Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered an easy and reliable index of subclinical atherosclerosis, which is predictive of subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke. To evaluate the cardiovascular risk of PCOS and the participation of the hyperandrogenemic and metabolic pattern, we measured carotid IMT by B-mode ultrasound as well as hormonal and several cardiovascular disease-associated parameters in 75 young women with PCOS and 55 healthy, age- and body mass index-matched women. The PCOS women had significantly increased carotid IMT (0.58 vs. 0.47 mm, P < 0.001) and abdominal adiposity; higher levels of androgens, insulin, homeostasis model assessment score of insulin sensitivity, and total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; and significantly lower levels of SHBG and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In the studied population (n = 130), PCOS status, age, body mass index, and parental history of coronary heart disease were strong positive predictors of carotid IMT, whereas dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was a strong negative predictor. In PCOS patients lower delta4-androstenedione and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were additionally strong positive predictors of carotid IMT, whereas in control women only total cholesterol was the additional positive predictor of carotid IMT. In conclusion, young women with PCOS have an early increase of cardiovascular risk factors and greater carotid IMT, both of which may be responsible for subclinical atherosclerosis. The hyperandrogenemic phenotype of the syndrome may attenuate the consequences of the dysmetabolic phenotype on the vascular wall.
Vryonidou et al. (Sun,) conducted a case-control in Polycystic ovary syndrome (n=130). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) vs. Healthy, age- and body mass index-matched women was evaluated on Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) (p=< 0.001). Young women with PCOS had significantly increased carotid intima-media thickness compared to healthy matched controls (0.58 vs. 0.47 mm, P < 0.001), indicating early subclinical atherosclerosis.