Characteristics of harmonic indexes of the arterial blood pressure waveform in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Abstract

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS; which is often associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors) may present hemodynamic changes in the cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study was to verify whether harmonic indexes of the arterial blood pressure waveform (BPWs) can be used to discriminate between PCOS patients and healthy individuals. Twenty-minute bilateral radial BPW signals were obtained in 20 PCOS patients and 20 healthy individuals. Amplitude proportions (Cn values) and their coefficients of variation (CVn values) were calculated for harmonics 1-10 of the BPW. C1 was significantly larger whereas C4, CV2, and CV6 were significantly smaller in PCOS patients compared with healthy individuals. The results of the present study suggest that harmonic-analysis indexes of the BPWs could provide information about the arterial pulse transmission (by monitoring Cn) and cardiovascular regulatory activities (by monitoring CVn). These findings could aid the development of an easy-to-perform, noninvasive, and continuous monitoring technique to improve the detection of PCOS-induced hemodynamic changes.