Evaluation of Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Introduction The purpose of this study is to assess cardiovascular risk factors in patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by comparing dyslipidemia, insulin sensitivity, hyperhomocysteinemia, carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) between women diagnosed with PCOS and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods Hundred women diagnosed with PCOS aged between 18 and 35 years and who applied to tertiary center gynecology clinic were included in the study. Hundred women who applied for menstrual irregularity to the same outpatient clinic with no systemic diseases, who were not under medical treatment for any condition, were included in the control group. Physical examination, hormone profile tests on the second day of the patients' menstrual cycle, pelvic, and neck ultrasonography to evaluate CIMT were performed for all patients. CIMT values were compared with biochemical, hormonal, and anthropometric values. Sensitivity, specificity, Pearson correlation coefficient, mean, and standard deviation were calculated. Results In the PCOS group, there was no statistically significant difference in homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (2.5) among all parameters. When we evaluate body mass index (BMI) (30) for this PCOS group patients, a very highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between waist-hip ratio and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was established statistically, and there was a significant difference (p < 0,05) between waist-hip ratio and luteinizing hormone (LH). After this statistical analysis, dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate (DHEAS), free androgen index (FAI), LH, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), Ferriman-Gallwey score (FGS), homocysteine, mean CIMT, and waist to hip ratio were significantly different in the two groups (p < 0.01). The difference between HbA1c and cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion As a result, in the PCOS group, when compared to the healthy subjects, dyslipidemia, HbA1c, waist to hip ratio, and CIMT were significantly different. It might be suitable to perform an ultrasound for CIMT in patients with higher Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) score.