The cardiovascular risk profile of middle‐aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle‐aged women with PCOS, compared with age‐matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10‐year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. Design A cross‐sectional study. Participants 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age‐matched controls. Measurements Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten‐year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) was measured. Results Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P