title: Clinical characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome: investigating differences in White and South Asian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the phenotypic presentation of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) of different ethnicities and at different ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, retrospective data analysis (1988 - 2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialist clinic in a University Hospital, Leicestershire, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with PCOS, n = 1310 (mean age 26·2 years), 70·9% White and 29·1% South Asian (SA) attending a speciality clinic in Leicester UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and demographic characteristics of women with PCOS including age at first clinic appointment, signs and symptoms, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to White women, the SA were younger (24·3 vs 27·1 years, P < 0·001), less likely to smoke (3·7% vs 17·9% P < 0·001) and had a higher prevalence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) (16·8% vs 3·1% P < 0·001), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (8·1% vs 5·6%, P < 0·01) and hirsutism (88·5% vs 77·4%, P < 0·001), with lower systolic (126·5 vs 133·0 mmHg, P < 0·001), diastolic BP (71·8 vs 75·1 mmHg P = 0·008) and BMI (29·3 vs 31·5 kg/m(2) P = 0·002). Differences in body weight remained when participants were classified as obese, overweight and normal according to ethnicity-specific cut-off points (P = 0·048). In both ethnicities, those aged ≥30 years old had higher rates of obesity, T2DM, hypertension and infertility, and less acne, and oligomenorrhoea. Obesity was associated with increased T2DM, AN, systolic/diastolic BP, hirsutism and infertility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenotypic and metabolic presentations of women with PCOS appear to be significantly different depending on ethnicity, obesity and age. This has implications for management strategies in these groups.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.|Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Danielle H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bodicoat
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Miles J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.|Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester Diabetes Centre, Leicester General Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Kamlesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khunti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult