Metabolic syndrome in young women with the polycystic ovary syndrome: revisiting the threshold for an abnormally decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol serum level.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether the adult threshold for an abnormally decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) serum level (0.5 g/l) is appropriate in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of a database.


METHODS
Academic Hospital.


METHODS
A total of 854 women aged 16-40 years having PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria.


METHODS
Criteria defining the metabolic syndrome (MetS) (increased waist circumference, systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting glycaemia and decreased HDL-C) were separately analysed and compared in three different subgroups (16-20 years, 20-30 years and 30-40 years). The prevalence of the MetS was calculated using two different thresholds (0.5 and 0.4 g/l) for HDL-C in the 16-20 years group.


METHODS
Prevalence of MetS.


RESULTS
The prevalence of an abnormal HDL-C (<0.5 g/l) was higher in the youngest women (60%), whereas frequencies of abnormal waist circumference, systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and fasting glycaemia were lower than in the two other groups. The prevalence of an abnormal HDL-C dropped to 27% when using a threshold of 0.4 g/l in the 16-20 years subgroup. The prevalence of the MetS in the 16-20 years subgroup was 11%, whatever the threshold, because HDL-C was <0.4 g/l in all women once they scored 3 or more.


CONCLUSIONS
The adult threshold for HDL-C overestimates the prevalence of abnormal HDL-C in young women with PCOS. Until normative data about HDL-C in adult women under 20 years is available, we suggest using a threshold of 0.4 g/l or ignoring this criterion.
Dewailly
D
D
Department of Endocrine Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Lille, France. ddewailly@chru-lille.fr
Contestin
M
M
Gallo
C
C
Catteau-Jonard
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides