Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Overview

Journal Fertil Steril

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2022 May 5

PMID 35512975

Authors

Joanne Michelle D Gomez

Katherine VanHise

Nina Stachenfeld

Jessica L Chan

Noel Bairey Merz

Chrisandra Shufelt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) impacts approximately 6%-10% of women worldwide, with hallmark features of hyperandrogenism, irregular menses, infertility, and polycystic appearing ovaries on ultrasound. In addition, PCOS is associated with several endocrine and metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome, which all increase the risk for subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD), the presence of altered vascular endothelium without overt CVD. In this review, we summarize the most recent literature regarding subclinical CVD in women with PCOS, including markers such as flow-mediated dilation, arterial stiffness, coronary artery calcium scores, carotid intima-media thickness and visceral and epicardial fat.

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