COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL AND METABOLIC CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS) AMONG SRI LANKAN WOMEN FROM A TERTIARY CLINIC VERSUS. A COMMUNITY SETTING

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:The manifestations of PCOS are linked to insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism OBJECTIVE:To compare clinical and metabolic characteristics of Sri Lankan women with PCOS managed in a clinic versus. those detected by a community survey METHODS:Data of a cohort of newly diagnosed women with PCOS diagnosed by a community survey in Gampaha (2005) with 198 consecutive women with well characterised PCOS attending a tertiary endocrine clinic in Colombo (2002 to 2005). RESULTS:Clinic based women vs. community sample : median FG score was significantly higher 10.6 vs 4.74 (p < 0.05); those with BMI 25 kg/m2 was 61.8 percent vs 43.5 percent was significantly greater (p<0.01). Mean fasting plasma insulin (_g/dl) was 27.15 vs, 7.2, total cholesterol (mg/dl) 200.9 vs. 181.46, triglycerides (mg/dl) 119.34 vs 106.12, and LDL (mg/dl) 133.29 vs 114.27 were significantly higher among clinic based women. Prevalence of hypertension 26.1percent vs 10.9percent was also significantly higher (p<0.05) greater among the clinic attendees although diabetes mellitusn was 6.79/6 vs 3.4percent and not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS:This data confirms that women with PCOS who are referred to specialist clinics have a far greater degree of metabolic derangement that those who were identified by community based screening.