Evaluation of potential association of metabolic syndrome in obese and non-obese PCOS women

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an escalating endocrinal and reproductive disorder among women of reproductive age and is considered the foremost health burden. Therefore, the present study is an attempt to estimate the potential association of metabolic syndrome in obese and non-obese PCOS women. A total of 250 PCOS women ranging in age from 18 to 45 years and living in the Chandigarh Capital Region were selected from the OPD, PGIMER, Chandigarh, (North India). Rotterdam Criteria (2003) was employed to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome among women.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) as assessed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III) was found to be 30% (4% in non-obese and 26% in obese) in PCOS women. Waist circumference > 88 cm is the most prevalent feature in PCOS women (67.2%) followed by HDL < 50 mg/dL (56.8%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis exhibited that visceral adiposity index (VAI) was a significant determinant of metabolic syndrome in obese (OR = 1.17, p < 0.01) and non-obese (OR = 1.2, p < 0.01) PCOS women. Results of ROC analysis further established visceral adiposity index as a potential determinant in metabolic syndrome in both the groups of PCOS women. In obese PCOS women, the W/H ratio also depicted accuracy in predicting metabolic syndrome risk.

Visceral adiposity index is a significant tool to assess the metabolic syndrome in both groups, i.e., obese and non-obese. However, the waist/hip ratio can be considered as a predictive tool in obese women only. Thus, it could be used as a significant and inexpensive tool in clinical practices for early detection of metabolic syndrome in PCOS women.