Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objectives: Our aim was to compare the clinical, hormonal and metabolic features between overweight and obese patients with PCOS and normal weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: 119 patients with PCOS (15-39 years) were included in the study. We evaluated anthropometric, hormonal and metabolic parameters in all patients.
Results: Ferriman- Gallwey hirsutism score was similar in overweight or obese patients with PCOS (n=78) and normal weight patients with PCOS (n=41) (p=0.373). While 71.8% of the obese group had irregular menses, this ratio was 60.9% in normal weight group (p=0.160). HOMA-IR values were higher in the obese group (1.7±0.7 vs 3.3±1.7, p<0.001). Serum triglyceride (87.2±49.8 vs. 123.4±65.3 mg/dl) and LDL-cholesterol levels (104.5±29.4 vs 121.7±32.9 mg/dl) were higher in obese group than the normal weight group (p=0.002, p=0.006). HDL-cholesterol levels were lower in obese group (46.5±11 vs 56.7±11.7 mg/dl, p<0.001). Free testosterone levels were 3.54±2.5 pg/ml in overweight and obese group and 2.36 ± 1.2 pg/ml in normal weight group (p = 0.016). While BMI was positively correlated with age (r=0.210), waist circumference (r=0.916), systolic (r=0.238) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.181), insulin (r=0.635), HOMA-IR (r=0.650), total-C ( r=0.242), LDL-C (r=0.295), triglyceride (r=0.424) and total testosterone (r=0.230), it was negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=-0.476).
Conclusion: Obesity did not influence hirsutism and menstruel regularity in patients with PCOS in this study, however obesity deteriorated insulin sensitivity and lipid profile.