Lipid Parameters in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The purpose of our study was to investigate the lipid profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: a retrospective review of the medical records of female patients addressing for a consultation in a private healthcare network in Cluj-Napoca between 2009 and 2011 was performed. Patients with complete lipid profile and without previous treatment were included in the PCOS group. PCOS was diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Healthy female patients matched for age but without PCOS were included in the control group. Results: Compared with healthy women, women with PCOS presented higher total cholesterol levels (mean difference = 27.5 mg/dl for total cholesterol, p = 0.004) and LDL-cholesterol (mean difference = 38.1 mg/dl, p < 0.001). HDL-cholesterol displayed lower levels in PCOS patients compared with healthy women (44.4±12.2 mg/dl vs. 50.5±12.2 mg/dl, p = 0.02). No difference was observed between groups in terms of triglycerides levels. In regression analysis both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were positively associated only with the presence of PCOS (β = 0.30, p = 0.01 for total cholesterol, β = 0.44, p<0.001 for LDL-cholesterol). No association was observed between HDL-cholesterol levels and the presence of PCOS. Conclusion: The results of our study show that women with PCOS have altered lipid profile, with higher cholesterol levels (both total and LDL) and lower HDL cholesterol compared with healthy women. These lipid parameters were associated with the presence of PCOS and not with parameters describing body weight.