Prevalence and Clinical Predictors of Insulin Resistance in Reproductive-Aged Thai Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and its predictors in reproductive-aged Thai women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2007 to January 2009. Participants were 250 Thai women with PCOS. Information regarding medical history and physical examination and results of 75 gram OGTT were recorded. Results. The overall prevalence of IR was 20.0%, comprising the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetic mellitus of 3.2%, 13.6%, and 5.6%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictors for IR were age of ≥30 years old, waist circumference (WC) of ≥80 cm, presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN), and dyslipidemia with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.14 (1.01–4.52), 3.53 (1.28–9.75), 2.63 (1.17–5.88), and 3.07 (1.16–8.11), respectively. Conclusion. The overall prevalence of IR in reproductive-aged Thai women with PCOS is 20.0%. Age ≥30 years old, WC ≥80 cm, the presence of AN, and dyslipidemia are the significant clinical predictors

The Usefulness of Homeostatic Measurement Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) for Detection of Glucose Intolerance in Thai Women of Reproductive Age with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objectives. To study the cut-off point of Homeostatic Measurement Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) as a screening test for detection of glucose intolerance in Thai women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. Subject. Two hundred and fifty Thai PCOS women who attended the Gynecologic Endocrinology Unit, during May 2007 to January 2009. Materials and Methods. The paitents were interviewed and examined for weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Venous blood samples were drawn twice, one at 12-hour fasting and the other at 2 hours after glucose loading. Results. The prevalence of glucose intolerance in Thai PCOS women was 20.0%. The mean of HOMA-IR was 3.53  ±  7.7. Area under an ROC curve for HOMA-IR for detecting glucose intolerance was 0.82. Using the cut-off value of HOMA-IR >2.0, there was sensitivity at 84.0%, specificity at 61.0%, positive predictive value at 35.0%, negative predictive value at 93.8%, and accuracy at 65.6%. Conclusion. HOMA-IR >2.0 was used for screening test for glucose intolerance in Thai PCOS women. If the result was positive, a specific test should be done to prove the diagnosis

Body Fat Distribution in Thai Reproductive-Aged Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women Compared with Non-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women

Background: The body fat in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women is mostly centrally distributed and is associated with insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, and hyperandrogenemia. This study compared the fat distributions of Thai PCOS and non-PCOS women, and it investigated the association between body fat distribution in PCOS women with glucose tolerance and serum androgens. Methods: The PCOS and non-PCOS groups each had 60 women. The body mass indexes (BMI) of the groups were matched. Blood tests and fat distributions were compared between group. Results: The mean age of the non-PCOS group was significantly higher than that of the PCOS group (30.85 ± 6.41 vs. 25.95 ± 5.16 years; p-value < 0.001). The glucose level after a 2-hour, 75-gram, oral glucose tolerance test (75-g OGTT) of the PCOS group, and its insulin resistance, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels, were significantly higher than the corresponding values of the non-PCOS group. The fat distribution patterns of the 2 groups were generally not significantly different. The level of fat distributed in the arms was significantly elevated among PCOS women with abnormal 75-g OGTT values. The fat distributions of PCOS women, regardless of hyperandrogenemia status, did not significantly differ. Conclusions: No significant differences in fat distribution were observed between the PCOS and non-PCOS groups. PCOS participants with abnormal 75-g OGTT levels had a higher proportion of arm-fat compared to those with normal results. There were no discernible differences in fat distribution patterns between PCOS women with hyperandrogenemia and those with normal androgen levels