Objectives: To determine the prevalence of glucose tolerance abnormalities and to identify associated risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) attending a reproductive endocrinology clinic.
Design: Retrospective chart review.
Participants and setting: 372 women with confirmed PCOS attending a reproductive endocrinology clinic at Adelaide University's Research Centre for Reproductive Health.
Main outcome measures: Prevalence of glucose tolerance abnormalities and association of such abnormalities with potential risk factors.
Results: 4.0% (15 women) had diabetes mellitus, 15.6% (58) had impaired glucose tolerance and 80.4% (299) had normal glucose tolerance. There was a significant trend towards increasing prevalence of diabetes with increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; P = 0.0085). The prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance (diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance together) was significantly higher with higher waist circumference (OR, 2.9; P = 0.05), higher body mass index (OR, 8.02; P = 0.0253), a family history of diabetes (OR, 1.56; P = 0.0192) and the presence of metabolic syndrome (OR, 5.62; P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance is high in women with PCOS, especially in older women and those with abdominal obesity and a family history of diabetes.