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Carotid intima-media thickness in polycystic ovary syndrome and its association with hormone and lipid profiles

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Jabbour, Rhea, Ott, Johannes, Eppel, Wolfgang, Frigo, Peter·2020·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0232299PMC PMC7182264
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular disease. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CIMT) represents a valid surrogate marker of early systemic atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate if CIMT is increased in PCOS patients compared to healthy controls and if there is an association with hormone and metabolic profiles. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, past medical history, anthropometrical measurements and hormonal, lipidemic and glycemic parameters were obtained in 41 PCOS patients and 43 age-matched healthy controls of similar body mass index (BMI) and frequency of smokers. B-mode ultrasound enabled CIMT measurement at the far wall of the left and right common carotid artery. RESULTS: Patients with PCOS showed significantly increased CIMT values compared to healthy controls (0.49±0.04mm vs. 0.37±0.04mm respectively, P<0.001). They featured a generally increased cardiovascular risk profile. Correlation analysis showed a positive association between CIMT and the adverse metabolic risk profile. The diagnosis of PCOS was the strongest predictor of CIMT, even after multiple adjustments for BMI, age and smoking status (β = 0.797, P<0.001, R2 = 0.73). A model among oligomenorrhoic patients revealed a relationship between CIMT and the suspected duration of disease (β = 0.373, P = 0.021, R2 = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: PCOS patients are likely to feature signs of premature systemic atherosclerosis at a young age. Early exposure to adverse cardiovascular risk factors may possibly have long-term consequences on the vascular system. An early vessel screening might thus already be beneficial in these patients at a younger age.

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  • Young women and adolescents with PCOS have early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including increased carotid intimal medial thickness and carotid plaque.

    “Young women and adolescents with PCOS have been shown to have early atherosclerotic CVD, including increased carotid intimal medial thickness and carotid plaque.86, 87, 88, 89”

    From Increased Prevalence of Adverse Health Outcomes Across the Lifespan in Those Affected by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Canadian Population Cohort (2024) · cites this paper as [89]

    The Discussion reports significantly increased carotid intima-media thickness in PCOS patients, and the Conclusions interpret it as a sign of premature atherosclerosis at a young age (page numbers unavailable). The study does not establish this finding in adolescents or report increased carotid plaque; its CIMT measurement protocol excluded interference from possible plaque. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Jabbour, R., Ott, J., Eppel, W., & Frigo, P.
Affiliations
Medical University of Vienna (AT)
Corresponding author
  • Jabbour, Rhea
  • Ott, Johannes
  • Eppel, Wolfgang
  • Frigo, Peter
ORCID
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2020-04-24
Volume
15
Issue
4
Pages
e0232299
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0232299
PMC
PMC7182264
OpenAlex
W3020777891
Cited by
43
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
FWCI
5.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Universität Wien
  • Medizinische Universität Wien
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention
Keywords
polycystic ovary syndrome, carotid intima-media thickness, systemic atherosclerosis, cardiovascular risk, metabolic risk profile, hyperandrogenism, oligomenorrhea, disease duration, lipid profile, hormonal profile, vascular screening
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Prospective Studies, Young Adult, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness

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