title: Subclinical atherosclerosis and hyperandrogenemia are independent risk factors for increased epicardial fat thickness in patients with PCOS and idiopathic hirsutism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting reproductive-age women and is reported to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and early atherosclerosis. Epicardial fat thickness (EF) is clinically related to subclinical atherosclerosis and visceral fat changes. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), EF and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with PCOS, patients with idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional controlled study was conducted in a training and research hospital. The study population consisted of 50 reproductive-age PCOS women, 34 women with IH and 39 control subjects. We evaluated anthropometric, hormonal and metabolic parameters as well as CIMT and EF measurements in PCOS patients, IH patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, hsCRP, GGT, CIMT, and EF levels were significantly higher in patients with PCOS and IH (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between EF and age, BMI, WHR, Ferriman Gallwey score (FG), fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C, 17 OH progesterone, free testosterone, CIMT, hsCRP, and GGT, whereas a significant negative correlation was observed between EF and HDL-C (p < 0.05). In the multiple linear regression analyses, EF was found to be associated with the FG (β coefficient: 0.389, p < 0.001), CIMT (β coefficient: 0.376, p < 0.001) and free testosterone levels (β coefficient: 0.173, p < 0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EF appears to be a marker that will enable the detection of the cardiometabolic response in patients with PCOS and IH, even at an early stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Diskapi Training and Research Hospital, Demetevler 1. cadde, 81-10, Altindag, TR-06200, Ankara, Turkey. drevrimcakir@gmail.com
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Topaloglu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakal
authors.forename: Mustafa Gokhan
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yeter
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delibasi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult