[Epidemiological study of clinical characteristics of Chinese Han ethnic women with polycystic ovary syndrome]

Abstract

Objective: To carry out an epidemiological study of clinical characteristics of Chinese Han ethnic women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: According to Revised 2003 European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology/American Society for Reproductive Medicine criteria, PCOS can be diagnosed with 2 manifestations out of oligo-or anovulation, clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism exclusion of other etiologies and polycystic ovaries. One thousand and twenty-seven women in reproductive age from one area in Jinan city were investigated and the clinical, metabolic characteristics of the PCOS patients were analyzed.

Results: (1) A total of 828 questionnaires were collected from 1027 women; the response rate was 80.62%. Eighty-five PCOS patients were diagnosed; PCOS accounted for 97.65% (83/85) in <or= 35 years old population groups; (2) Clinical manifestations were different between PCOS groups and controls in each age stage (P < 0.05); Menstruation, body hair Ferriman-Gallny (F-G) score, acne, ovarian follicle numbers decreased with aging among PCOS groups, and menstruation cycle was longer, testosterone (T), free androgen index (FAI) and ovarian follicle numbers were higher, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was lower than control groups of the same age respectively (P < 0.01); (3) Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (Homa-IR) index in infertility PCOS group was higher than in fertility group (1.49 +/- 0.73 vs 1.31 +/- 0.66; t = 2.058; P < 0.05); fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose in obesity PCOS group was higher than in non-obesity group (8.50 +/- 3.46 vs 5.7 +/- 2.3, t = 2.984; P < 0.01, 5.45 +/- 0.54 vs 4.88 +/- 0.45, t = 2.891; P < 0.01), in contrast, insulin sensitivity index was lower in obesity PCOS group than in non-obesity group (0.025 +/- 0.015 vs 0.044 +/- 0.026; t = 2.292, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: (1) PCOS mainly distributes in <or= 35 years old population; (2) clinical manifestations of oligo-ovulation, clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries of PCOS change with age increase. (3) PCOS with infertility and obesity is usually associated with glucose metabolic changes, especially insulin resistance.