Distribution of anthropometric, clinical, and metabolic profiles of women with polycystic ovary syndrome across the four regions of India

Context: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common endocrine disorders encountered in women of reproductive age, is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Development of PCOS and its phenotypic expressions is influenced by genetic, ethnic and environmental factors. Due to the vast cultural diversity in our country, differences in the prevalence of MetS may exist across different regions. Aims and Objectives: To study the distribution of anthropometric, clinical, and metabolic profiles of women with PCOS across the four regions of India. Materials and Methods: A multicentric prospective study using data collected from four tertiary Assisted Reproductive Centres across four different regions of India was carried out between January 2017 and December 2017. A total of 651 women were diagnosed with PCOS, with 178 belonging to North, 209 to East, 115 to West and 149 to South India. A comparison of the metabolic and anthropometric profiles of women with PCOS was made across the four different ethnic regions of India. Statistical Analysis: Quantitative variables were compared using the Mann–Whitney test and qualitative variables using the Chi-square test.P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: North Indian women had the highest mean body mass index (BMI) – 27.53 ± 4.55 kg/m2 and a higher waist circumference (89.93 ± 14.53 cm) compared to women from South and West India (P = 0.0001). The prevalence of MetS (41.98%) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (37.04%) was also highest in North India followed by East India. PCOS women from East India were lean but had the highest waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) 0.9 ± 0.05 (P = 0.0001) and dyslipidemia. Using multivariate logistical regression analysis, age >25 years, BMI >25 kg/m2, and WHR >0.8 had a strong association with MetS. Conclusion: Prevalence of MetS is high among Indian PCOS women, with women from the North and East India having the worst metabolic profiles. IGT is the main driver for MetS.