Factors affecting the degree of hirsutism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical features of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compare the patients with hirsutism to those without.

METHODS

In total, 304 consecutive females with PCOS were evaluated. The cases were divided into two groups of hirsute or non-hirsute. The risk factors recorded were age, age at menarche, body mass index (BMI), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, prolactin, and total testosterone (tT) levels and hirsutism scores. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student's t test and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of all the cases, 224 were hirsute (hirsutism score ≥ 8). No significant difference was observed between the groups for age or age at menarche. BMI and hormone levels, including LH, FSH, estradiol and tT, were higher in hirsute patients than those in non-hirsute patients (p < 0.05). The logistic regression model showed that BMI, tT, LH, and estradiol were significant risk factors with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 5.81 (2.22-15.18), 4.57 (2.34-8.90), 2.61 (1.73-3.94), and 2.29 (1.30-4.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Hirsute patients with PCOS have different clinical characteristics from those that are non-hirsute in terms of BMI, LH, FSH, estradiol, and tT levels. We also determined the odds ratios of these different parameters. BMI was the most important risk factor for the degree of hirsutism.