This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lo, J. C. Articles by Go, A. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lo, J. C. Articles by Go, A. S. Related Collections Cardiovascular Endocrinology Female Endocrinology

Epidemiology and Adverse Cardiovascular Risk Profile of Diagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Division of Research (J.C.L., J.Y., A.R.P., J.V.S., A.S.G.), Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, Oakland, California 94612; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine (J.C.L.); and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (S.L.F.), Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Medicine (A.S.G.), University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143; and Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (S.L.F.), Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94115

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Joan C. Lo, M.D., Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, 2000 Broadway Street, 2nd Floor, Oakland, California 94612-2304. E-mail: Joan.C.Lo{at}kp.org.

Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with menstrual and reproductive abnormalities, insulin resistance, and obesity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of diagnosed PCOS and its association with cardiovascular risk factors.

Setting: The study is set in an integrated health care delivery system in northern California.

Patients: A total of 11,035 women with PCOS were identified by one or more outpatient diagnoses of PCOS using health plan databases. An age-matched sample of women without PCOS was also selected.

Outcome Measures: Prevalence of PCOS and targeted cardiovascular risk factors [hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index (BMI)] were measured.

Results: During 2002–2004, the prevalence of diagnosed PCOS among female members aged 25–34 yr was 2.6% (95% confidence interval 1.6–1.7%). Women with diagnosed PCOS were more likely than those without PCOS to be obese [BMI 30 mg/m²; odds ratio (OR) 4.21, 3.96–4.47]. Furthermore, PCOS was associated with diabetes (OR 2.45, confidence interval 2.16–2.79), hypertension (OR 1.41, 1.31–1.51) and known dyslipidemia (OR 1.53, 1.39–1.68), even after adjusting for BMI and known confounders. Among women with PCOS, compared with whites, Blacks and Hispanics were more likely and Asians less likely to be obese; Asians and Hispanics were more likely to have diabetes; and Blacks were more likely and Hispanics less likely to have hypertension.

Conclusions: Within a large, community-based population receiving health care, diagnosed PCOS was highly prevalent and associated with a much higher frequency of cardiovascular risk factors that varied by race/ethnicity. Our prevalence estimates likely underestimate the true prevalence of PCOS. Further studies are needed to explore racial/ethnic differences and the extent to which PCOS contributes to future cardiovascular risk.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R.-m. Ni, Y. Mo, X. Chen, J. Zhong, W. Liu, and D. Yang Low prevalence of the metabolic syndrome but high occurrence of various metabolic disorders in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome Eur. J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2009; 161(3): 411 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. I. Cheang, J. M. Huszar, A. M. Best, S. Sharma, P. A. Essah, and J. E. Nestler Long-term effect of metformin on metabolic parameters in the polycystic ovary syndrome Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research, April 1, 2009; 6(2): 110 - 119. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A.J. Goverde, A.J.B. van Koert, M.J. Eijkemans, E.A.H. Knauff, H.E. Westerveld, B.C.J.M. Fauser, and F.J. Broekmans Indicators for metabolic disturbances in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosed according to the Rotterdam consensus criteria Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2009; 24(3): 710 - 717. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Sathyapalan, E. S. Kilpatrick, A.-M. Coady, and S. L. Atkin The Effect of Atorvastatin in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2009; 94(1): 103 - 108. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Hoeger, K. Davidson, L. Kochman, T. Cherry, L. Kopin, and D. S. Guzick The Impact of Metformin, Oral Contraceptives, and Lifestyle Modification on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Obese Adolescent Women in Two Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2008; 93(11): 4299 - 4306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Jensterle, M. Sebestjen, A. Janez, J. Prezelj, T. Kocjan, I. Keber, and M. Pfeifer Improvement of endothelial function with metformin and rosiglitazone treatment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2008; 159(4): 399 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Diamanti-Kandarakis, S. Livadas, S. A Kandarakis, A. Margeli, and I. Papassotiriou Serum concentrations of atherogenic proteins neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and its complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 are significantly lower in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: hint of a protective mechanism? Eur. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2008; 158(4): 525 - 531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Valkenburg, R. P. M. Steegers-Theunissen, H. P. M. Smedts, G. M. Dallinga-Thie, B. C. J. M. Fauser, E. H. Westerveld, and J. S. E. Laven A More Atherogenic Serum Lipoprotein Profile Is Present in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-Control Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2008; 93(2): 470 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K Devin, J. E Johnson, M. Eren, L. A Gleaves, W. S Bradham, J. R Bloodworth Jr, and D. E Vaughan Transgenic overexpression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 promotes the development of polycystic ovarian changes in female mice J. Mol. Endocrinol., July 1, 2007; 39(1): 9 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Luque-Ramirez, F. Alvarez-Blasco, J. I. Botella-Carretero, E. Martinez-Bermejo, M. A. Lasuncion, and H. F. Escobar-Morreale Comparison of Ethinyl-Estradiol Plus Cyproterone Acetate Versus Metformin Effects on Classic Metabolic Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2007; 92(7): 2453 - 2461. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Gagnon and J.-P. Baillargeon Suitability of recommended limits for fasting glucose tests in women with polycystic ovary syndrome Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 27, 2007; 176(7): 933 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C.W. Lau Screening for diabetes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 27, 2007; 176(7): 951 - 952. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Banaszewska, L. Pawelczyk, R. Z. Spaczynski, J. Dziura, and A. J. Duleba Effects of Simvastatin and Oral Contraceptive Agent on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Prospective, Randomized, Crossover Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2007; 92(2): 456 - 461. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Lo, S. L. Feigenbaum, G. J. Escobar, J. Yang, Y. M. Crites, and A. Ferrara Increased Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among Women With Diagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A population-based study Diabetes Care, August 1, 2006; 29(8): 1915 - 1917. [Full Text] [PDF]