Prevalence of insulin resistance in the polycystic ovary syndrome using the homeostasis model assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in a large population of patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


METHODS
Prospective, case-control.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
Two hundred seventy-one PCOS patients and 260 eumenorrheic, non-hirsute, control women.


METHODS
History and physical examination and blood sampling.


METHODS
Total T, free T, DHEAS, sex hormone-binding globulin, and fasting glucose and insulin levels; homeostatic model assessment values for IR (HOMA-IR) and percent beta-cell function (HOMA-%beta-cell).


RESULTS
Patients with PCOS and controls differed significantly in all parameters studied, except fasting glucose. Because the HOMA-IR and HOMA-%beta-cell values were variably associated with race, age, and body mass index, the HOMA-IR and HOMA-%beta-cell values were then adjusted for these cofounders. After adjustment, 64.4% of PCOS patients were noted to be insulin resistant, and 2.6% had beta-cell dysfunction. Compared with PCOS patients without IR (n = 96), patients with IR (n = 174) were more obese and had higher beta-cell function.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with PCOS, the prevalence of IR was 64% according to the HOMA-IR measurement, after adjustment. Patients with IR were more clinically affected. Although IR is a common abnormality in PCOS, it does not seem to be a universal feature.
DeUgarte
Catherine Marin
CM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
Bartolucci
Alfred A
AA
Azziz
Ricardo
R
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies