Studies of cardiovascular risk factors in polycystic ovary syndrome patients combined with subclinical hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate cardiovascular risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) combined with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).

PATIENTS

A place-controlled study was performed. Group 1: 29 patients with PCOS and SCH; Group II: 35 patients with PCOS and normal thyroid function; and Group III: 34 healthy women with normal thyroid function. MAIN MEASURE INDEXES: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), Carotid Arterial Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT), free triiodothyronine 3 (FT3), free triiodothyronine 4 (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), fasting glucose, 1-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT1), 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT2), fasting insulin, insulin after 1 hour oral glucose (INS1), insulin after 2 h oral glucose (INS2), HOM-IR = (fasting glucose × fasting insulin)/22.5.

RESULTS

TG, TC FIN, INS1, and HOM-IR levels were significantly higher, but the mean HDL level was significantly lower in Group I than in Group II (p < 0.05). LDL cholesterol, FGOGTT1, OGTT2, and insulin after 2 h oral glucose were not significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (p > 0.05). TG, TC, FIN and INS contents 2 h meal, HOM-IR levels were significantly higher, and the mean HDL cholesterol level was significantly lower in Group I than in Group III (p < 0.05). Blood glucose levels after 1 and 2 h were not significantly higher in Group I than in the Group III (p > 0.05). Carotid Arterial Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) was significantly thicker in Group I than other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The PCOS patients combined with SCH have higher risk of cardiovascular risk factors than in controls or in patients with PCOS.