MON-214 The Natural Course of Normal Weight Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Insight into Metabolic Changes of Large Caucasian Cohort

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) constitutes one of the most common endocrine diseases that should be considered as a continuum. This life span disease is originating in foetal life and through long reproductive period falling into long-term consequences extending beyond menopause. Hence, it is considered to increase diabetes risk as well cardiovascular risk and outcomes. However, the natural course of the disorder is not completely understood, and recent data suggest differences in the evolution of the disease between normal-weight and obese patients, indicating that the cardiometabolic effects may be an epiphenomenon of the obesity and not of PCOS per se. We aimed to define the evolution of normal-weight Caucasian women with PCOS through the years. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional case control study 763 normal-weight women with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria and 376 age and BMI-matched controls were included. The study group was further divided into three age groups, representing women post-adolescence, of reproductive age, and of late reproductive age to menopause. All the subjects were assessed clinically, biochemically, hormonally, and with the means of pelvic ultrasound. Results: Waist circumference, WHR, FG score, glucose, lipids, gonadotropin, androgen levels as well as HOMA-IR and ovarian volume were significantly higher in the PCOS group in comparison to controls. No statistical difference was noted among PCOS women diagnosed with the Rotterdam criteria vs. those who met the NIH criteria. Age subgroup analysis showed that androgens remained significantly higher among PCOS and controls, whereas insulin and lipid levels, as well as HOMA-IR, were comparable between PCOS and controls in all age groups. Pearson correlations of studied parameters with age revealed a significant negative association of age with waist circumference, FG score, androgens (testosterone, FAI, DHEAS, D4), insulin, FSH, and HOMA-IR. Finally, multiple regression analysis of factors affecting HOMA-IR disclosed a negative association with age (r:-0.123, p: 0.001) and a positive association with BMI (r: 0.105, p: 0.004) and DHEAS (r: 0.175, p: 0.001). Conclusions: Lipids, androgens, insulin resistance, and menstrual cyclicity are gradually improved in an age-dependent manner in PCOS lean patients and age and BMI matched controls. Normal-weight PCOS women exhibit a higher degree of IR and dyslipidaemia compared to their healthy peers, but these aberrations improve gradually. If PCOS women retain their normal weight over the years, they may develop a metabolic and hormonal profile comparable to that of their peers without PCOS later in life.