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Metabolic syndrome in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, characteristics and associations with body mass index. A prospective controlled study

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, to evaluate the characteristics of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to investigate the correlation of MetS with body mass index (BMI).

Methods

In a prospective controlled study, 230 Greek female patients with PCOS and 155 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Diagnosis of PCOS was based on the revised criteria of Rotterdam. Both groups were examined for MetS. Diagnosis of MetS was based on the revised criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

Results

The prevalence of the MetS was 12.6 %, nearly sevenfold higher than the controls. Elevated fasting plasma glucose (7.0 vs. 1.9 %) and elevated triglycerides (10.4 vs. 3.2 %) were more frequent in the PCOS cohort (p < 0.05). Women with PCOS presented statistically higher BMI in comparison with the controls (p < 0.001). Subsequently, the prevalence of MetS was estimated in three groups: normal, overweight and obese subdivided according to BMI. The latter two groups showed significant differences compared with the healthy controls (24.5 vs. 8.8 %, p = 0.050).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study showed high prevalence of MetS and increased BMI in Greek PCOS women. In addition, it demonstrated the higher prevalence of MetS in obese PCOS women in comparison with the controls. These results are placing them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the future and underline the necessity of periodic screening, appropriate diet and exercise program.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ms Ifigenia Giannelou for the English review and Ms Chara Tzavara for the statistical analysis of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Athens “Attikon” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Giannoula Kyrkou, Eftichios Trakakis, Achilleas Attilakos, Periklis Panagopoulos, Charalampos Chrelias, Anastasios Papadimitriou, Vasilis Vaggopoulos, Eleni Alexiou, Dimitrios Kassanos, Vasiliki Papaevangelou & Nikolaos Papantoniou

  2. University of Athens “Areteion” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Georgios Mastorakos

  3. Technological Education Institute of Athens, Egaleo, Greece

    Aikaterini Lykeridou

Authors
  1. Giannoula Kyrkou
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  2. Eftichios Trakakis
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  3. Achilleas Attilakos
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Correspondence to Giannoula Kyrkou.

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Conflict of interest

No company or institute supported the present study financially or otherwise and none of the authors have any potential conflicts of interest associated with this study. They also declare that they have had full control of all primary data and that they agree to allow the Journal to review their data if requested.

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Kyrkou, G., Trakakis, E., Attilakos, A. et al. Metabolic syndrome in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, characteristics and associations with body mass index. A prospective controlled study. Arch Gynecol Obstet 293, 915–923 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3964-y

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