Metabolic Syndrome and Its Characteristics among Reproductive-Aged Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study in Northwest Iran

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of factors known to increase the risk forcardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the mostcommon endocrine disorder among reproductive-aged women, is also closely linked to MetS. Limitedinformation is available pertaining to the prevalence of MetS in Iranian PCOS women; therefore thisstudy assesses the frequency of MetS and its components among PCOS women from Tabriz, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated a total of 200 women withPCOS who referred to the only specialty and subspecialty gynecological center in Northwestern Iran.PCOS was diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. This study defined clinical and biochemicalparameters for MetS by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III(NCEP ATP III) criteria. Statistical analyses were performed with descriptive-analytical methodsusing SPSS software version 16.Results: MetS was identified in 39.5% of PCOS women. The frequencies of individual componentsof MetS among studied subjects were: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C)<50 mg/dL (99.5%), waist circumference(WC) ≥88cm (65%), triglycerides (TG) ≥150 mg/dL(98%), andblood pressure≥130/85 mmHg(34%).There were no fasting glucose concentrations≥110 mg/dL. Thefrequency of MetS increased with body mass index (BMI)as follows: normal (5.4%), overweight(41.5%) and obese (85.7%) women (p<0.0001).Conclusion: The PCOS women in this study had a high frequency of MetS and its individualcomponents, particularly decreased HDL-C and increased triglyceride levels. These data can usefulfor lifestyle modification programs.