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 …