Women in their 30s and 40s with PCOS more likely to get heart disease: Study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. It can cause menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth or hair loss from the head due to high levels of male hormones, acne, obesity, and multiple cysts (fluid-filled sacs) on the ovaries. Several studies have shown that women with PCOS are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases as they have the tendency to be overweight, have diabetes, and have high blood pressure.

A new study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, has also concluded that women with this hormonal disorder are more likely to develop heart disease. According to the study, 6-20 per cent of women of reproductive age have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

The new study examined whether women with PCOS have a greater likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, and whether the risk persists across the lifespan. Study author Clare Oliver-Williams from the University of Cambridge in the UK assumed that as some PCOS symptoms are only present during the reproductive years, the risk of heart disease might disappear later in life.

Risk of heart disease higher in young women with PCOS

The study included 60,574 women receiving treatment to help them get pregnant, of which 6,149 (10.2 per cent) had PCOS. The researchers followed the women for nine years (from 1994 to 2015) and studied their medical records. As many as 2,925 (4.8 per cent) women developed cardiovascular disease during that period. Women with PCOS had 19 per cent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than women who did not have PCOS – the researchers said.

However, they found that women with PCOS aged 50 and over did not have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to their peers without PCOS. The findings showed that women in their 30s and 40s with PCOS were at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk in those under 30 was less clear as there were insufficient women of that age in the study.

“Heart health appears to be a particular problem for young women with PCOS. This may be because they are more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure and diabetes compared to their peers,” IANS quoted the authors as writing.

Long-term health risks associated with PCOS

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, it is important to have your health monitored regularly to prevent long-term health risks associated with the condition. Having PCOS increases your risk of:

Infertility or subfertility: PCOS is a common but treatable cause of infertility in women. The hormonal imbalance can interfere with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation), and cause difficulty in getting pregnant.
Endometrial cancer: Women with PCOS have higher androgen (male hormones) and estrogen levels and lower levels of progesterone. The increase in estrogen levels can increase a woman’s risk of getting endometrial cancer
Diabetes: More than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40, according to CDC. Studies have shown that most women with PCOS are insulin resistant that leads production of high levels of insulin, which is a characteristic of type 2 diabetes.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Women with PCOS are two times more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea compared to women without the condition, according to a study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology. The hormonal imbalance is linked to the increased prevalence of OSA in PCOS patients.

Women in their 30s and 40s with PCOS more likely to get heart disease: Study

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Women in their 30s and 40s with PCOS more likely to get heart disease: Study

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