KatCarney

Endocrine Disorder Linked to Hardened Arteries

from Clinician Reviews ®
Posted 08/22/2003

Christian RC, Dumesic DA, Behrenbeck T, et al. Prevalence and predictors of coronary artery calcification in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:2562-2568.

Between 6% and 10% of premenopausal women are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder that may be associated with the formation of coronary artery calcium (CAC), according to study results published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. PCOS -- characterized by hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation -- has previously been associated with several heart disease risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and hypertension.

Christian et al identified 36 obese women ages 30 to 45 with PCOS and 71 women without PCOS (controls) matched by age and body mass index. Premenopausal status was confirmed through serum testing of hormone levels. As the women in both groups were at greater-than-average risk for coronary heart disease, study results were retrospectively compared with data from a prior CAC study involving 142 nonobese, community-dwelling women who were between the ages of 35 and 45 (reference group).

CAC was detected in 39% of PCOS women, 21% of controls, and 9.9% of women in the reference group. Waist circumference and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were greater in PCOS women with CAC than in controls with CAC. Adolescents and young adults with PCOS "should be targeted for primary prevention" of coronary heart disease by advocating lifestyle changes to treat obesity and dyslipidemia, the authors conclude.

Evidence suggests that coronary artery calcium deposits are prevalent among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.


source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/459899

Clinician Reviews 13(7):37-38, 2003. © 2003 Clinicians Group, LLC

__________________