Coexisting hypothyroidism – Does it aggravate PCOS?

Abstract

Introduction: The goal of the present study was to find out the effect of coexisting hypothyroidism on the biochemical and anthropometric measurements in PCOS patients. Materials and Methods:The study consisted of 90 subjects already diagnosed as PCOS and thirty age matched controls .Biochemical parameters like fasting blood sugar and lipid profile and the anthropometric measurements like BMI and waist circumference were compared between the two groups. The 90 PCOS subjects were further divided in to two depending on their thyroid status as euthyroid and hypothyroid and the biochemical and anthropometric parameters were compared between these two groups. Result:In our study there was no statistically significant difference in the biochemical parameters between the PCOS subjects and the control group but the anthropometric parameters BMI and waist circumference were markedly increased in PCOS subjects as compared to the control group. The fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol and TG (triglyceride) levels were increased in hypothyroid PCOS subjects as compared to the euthyroid PCOS subjects. The waist circumference was also markedly increased in hypothyroid PCOS subjects as compared to the euthyroid group. Conclusion:Fasting blood sugar, Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased in hypothyroid PCOS patients as compared to euthyroid PCOS patients. This may increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular events in PCOS patients suffering form hypothyroidism Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Subclinical hypothyroidism, Lipid profile, Body mass index, Waist circumference