Relationship between hyperandrogen and impaired glucose regulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between hyperandrogen and abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and to analyze the potential association between free androgen index (FAI) and insulin sensitivity/islet beta cell function. Methods Clinical data of 378 PCOS women including sex hormone and other parameters obtained by 75 g glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were retrospectively analyzed from Endocrinology Department of Drum Tower Hospital between April 2013 and March 2017. Free androgen index (FAI), 1/homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (1/HOMA-IR) index, Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISIM), HOMA-β, InsAUC-30/GluAUC-30, InsAUC-120/GluAUC-120 and disposition index (DI) were calculated. Variance analysis or χ2 test was used for comparison between groups. Bonferroni method was used for post hoc comparison. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between FAI and AGT. Spearman correlation (corrected by age and body mass index) was used to analyze the relationship between FAI and insulin sensitivity index/β cell function. Results Of 378 PCOS women, the mean age was (27.8±4.4) years, 59.8% (226 of 378) had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 31.5%(119 of 378) had pre-diabetes, and 8.7% (33 of 378) had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). FAI in AGT [pre-diabetes 6.2(3.6, 10.3) and T2DM 7.9(4.4, 15.5)] were higher than those in NGT [5.0(2.8, 7.6), F=9.155, P 0.05). Conclusion High FAI levels are associated with high incidence of AGT, and FAI can be considered as an indicator of insulin resistance or β cell dysfunction in PCOS women. Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome; Hyperandrogen; Abnormal glucose tolerance