title: Hypertension in Reproductive-Aged Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Association With Obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder with metabolic complications, yet the prevalence of hypertension is unclear. We aim to assess hypertension prevalence and the impact of obesity in women reporting PCOS compared to those not reporting PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from a large longitudinal study, the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). Women from the general community were randomly selected from the national health insurance database. Standardized data collection occurred at 6 survey time points. Data from Survey 4 in 2006 (n = 8,612, age: 28-33 years) were examined for this study. The main outcome measures studied were self-reported PCOS and hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reported PCOS prevalence was 5.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.3%-6.4%). Women with PCOS had higher body mass index (BMI). Hypertension prevalence was 5.5% (95% CI: 3.3-7.7) in women reporting PCOS and 2.0% (95% CI: 1.6-2.3) in women not reporting PCOS (P < 0.001). Hypertension was associated with BMI (odds ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10, P < 0.001) with a trend towards an association with PCOS (P = 0.09). On subgroup analysis, hypertension was not associated with BMI in women reporting PCOS but was associated in those not reporting PCOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this large community-based cohort, we note increased prevalence of hypertension and higher BMI in young women reporting PCOS. BMI association with hypertension appeared clear in women not reporting PCOS. Yet in women with PCOS, hypertension appeared to not be associated with BMI, akin to observations on diabetes risk in PCOS, suggesting that metabolic abnormalities in PCOS may be independent of BMI.
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;
authors.forename: Anju E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Joham
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Jean Hailes for Women's Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoungas
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; helena.teede@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Helena J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Teede
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012098:Reproduction; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: PCOS.; blood pressure; hypertension; obesity