Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with obesity and low grade inflammation, factors linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: National Register-based study including women with PCOS and no previous diagnosis of CVD or hypertension. PCOS OUH (n=1165) included premenopausal women with PCOS and clinical and biochemical examination. PCOS Denmark (n=18 112) included women with PCOS in the Danish National Patient Register. Three age-matched controls were included per patient (n=52 769). The main study outcome was CVD events including hypertension defined according to nationwide in- and outpatient hospital contact diagnosis codes and/or inferred from filled medicine prescriptions.

Results: The age at inclusion was median (quartiles) 29 (23–35) years and follow up was 11.1 (6.9–16.0) years. The Hazard ratio (95% CI) for development of CVD including hypertension in PCOS Denmark was 1.7 (1.6; 1.8) (P<0.001) and the total event rate of CVD was 19.2 per 1000 patient years in PCOS Denmark vs 11.6 per 1000 patient years in controls (P<0.001). The median age at diagnosis of CVD was 35 (29–42) years in PCOS Denmark vs 36 (30–44) years in controls (P=0.02). Obesity, diabetes, and infertility, and previous use of oral contraceptives were associated with increased risk of development of CVD in PCOS Denmark (P<0.001). Also, age, BMI, blood pressure, lipid status, and glycemic status predicted development of CVD in PCOS OUH.

Conclusion: The event rate of CVD and hypertension was higher in PCOS compared to controls. The risk of developing CVD must be considered even in young women with PCOS.