Publication:

A case control study of role of lipid profile in polycystic ovarian syndrome: is there any role in non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome?

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, hyperandrogenism and abnormal lipid profile. Most of the studies involving lipid profile in PCOS are confounded by the factor of obesity. Here in our study we have tried to compare lipid profile in PCOS cases and healthy controls excluding obesity as a confounding factor.

Methods This is a case control study done between January 2013 to january2014 in VSS MCH, Burla, Odisha, India. The cases(n=50) diagnosed as PCOS based on Rotterdam's criteria and 50 controls of equivalent age group and body mass index without any endocrinopathy and not on hormonal therapy were selected. Lipid profile was compared for both the groups.

Results The Mean level of total cholesterol in the study and control group is 202.12±40.18 mg/dl and 171.48±17.74 mg/dl respectively and this is statistically highly significant (p value < 0.0001). Similarly the mean of triglyceride level in cases and controls is 162.38 ± 70.40 mg/dl and 131.46 ± 27.16 mg/dl respectively which is also statistically significant (p- value = 0.0046). In contrast to the above finding the change in mean level of HDL, LDL and VLDL is statistically not significant. So it’s found that the atherogenic lipid profile found in PCOS patients is independent of their age and body mass index.

Conclusions So we recommend that both lean as well as obese PCOS patients should be screened for lipid profile to prevent cardiac complications.