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. 2016 Sep-Oct;20(5):662-666.
doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.190552.

Carotid intimo-medial thickness: A predictor for cardiovascular disorder in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in the South Indian population

Neeraj Garg  1 , Mala Dharmalingam  1 , Vinay Prabhu  2 , N S Murthy  3
Affiliations

Carotid intimo-medial thickness: A predictor for cardiovascular disorder in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in the South Indian population

Neeraj Garg et al. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine problem, which is now recognized as not only a reproductive but also a metabolic disorder with long-term effects on women's health, it has a prevalence of 5-10% in India. Among PCOS, it has been reported to have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disorders. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between an increase in the carotid intimo-medial wall thickness (CIMT) and cardiovascular dysfunction. The objective of this study was to compare the CIMT of PCOS with normal women.

Materials and methods: The cross-sectional case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care Hospital in South India. Fifty-four subjects with polycystic ovarian disease and 54 healthy women were enrolled into the study. PCOS was diagnosed by Rotterdam criteria, 2003. Both groups of women were investigated with CIMT and cardiovascular dysfunction.

Results: The mean age of women with PCOS and controls were 24.4 ± 5.3 and 27.7 ± 6.0, respectively, whereas body mass index was significantly higher in PCOS than controls group. Mean carotid IMT was significantly higher in PCOS subjects (0.51 ± 0.078) than control subjects (0.44 ± 0.06).

Conclusion: Higher CIMT values were observed in PCOS group compared to control group indicating the importance for measuring CIMT in women with PCOS to predict the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction (CVD).

Keywords: Cardiovascular dysfunction; carotid intimo-medial thickness; polycystic ovary syndrome.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Carotid arterial Doppler of the polycystic ovary syndrome subject showing the longitudinal section of the right common carotid artery. The distance between the two plus symbols indicates the intimo-medial thickness. Rt. CCA: Right common carotid artery
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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