Phenotype and metabolic profile of South Asian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): results of a large database from a specialist Endocrine Clinic

Chandrika N Wijeyaratne, Ruwanthi de A Seneviratne, Shamalka Dahanayake, Vindya Kumarapeli, Ethusha Palipane, Nadeera Kuruppu, Chandrika Yapa, Rohini de A Seneviratne, Adam H Balen
Human Reproduction 26 (1), 202-213
Publication year: 2011

BACKGROUND
Compared with other populations, South Asians have a greater propensity to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This is the first study to determine the distribution of phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their relationship to the MetS among indigenous South Asians.
METHOD
An evaluation of the phenotype and metabolic characteristics of PCOS was conducted by recruiting consecutive women diagnosed by Rotterdam consensus criteria from an Endocrine clinic in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prevalence of MetS was determined, in relation to the phenotypic subgroup of PCOS and compared with ethnically matched, BMI- and age-adjusted controls (n =231).
RESULTS
Acanthosis nigricans (AN) occurred in 64.6% of women with PCOS (n= 469). MetS occurred in 30.6% of the PCOS group compared with 6.34%