Prevalence and clinical correlates of impaired glucose tolerance in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/dck79y62Keywords:
polycystic ovary syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, oral glucose tolerance test, young women, obesity, waist-hip ratio, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistanceAbstract
Background:
PCOS is often accompanied by insulin resistance, even during adolescence and early adulthood. Fasting glucose may remain normal despite abnormal glucose handling after a glucose load. This study estimated the prevalence of IGT and diabetes mellitus in young women with PCOS and examined their demographic, anthropometric, familial, and clinical correlates.
Methods:
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Departments of OBG at Kakatiya Medical College, Hanumakonda, and Government Medical College, Mulugu, Telangana, India. The study included 100 women aged 15–25 years who fulfilled the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Disorders that could mimic PCOS were excluded. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, family history, and clinical findings were recorded. Glycaemic status was assessed using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and classified according to WHO criteria. Associations were tested using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test.
Results:
Abnormal glucose tolerance was identified in 27% of participants. IGT was present in 22%, while 5% had diabetes mellitus; the remaining 73% had normal glucose tolerance. Dysglycaemia was observed across the 15–25-year age group and was proportionally higher among women from urban areas, higher socioeconomic groups, and those with a family history of PCOS, although these demographic associations were not statistically significant. The prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance increased with BMI and was highest among women with class II obesity. A waist–hip ratio of ≥0.85 and a family history of diabetes were also significantly associated with dysglycaemia. Acanthosis nigricans, primary subfertility, and polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasonography were more frequent among women with IGT or diabetes.
Conclusion:
More than one in four young women with PCOS had abnormal glucose tolerance. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test may help identify early dysglycaemia, particularly in women with obesity, central adiposity, acanthosis nigricans, or a family history of diabetes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Swetha Reddy Sambireddy, Laxmi Malladi, Rahulya Marapelly (Author)
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