ELEVATED AMBULATORY DAYTIME BLOOD-PRESSURE IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME - A SIGN OF A PRE-HYPERTENSIVE STATE

The aim of this study was to evaluate office and 24 h blood pressures in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normal controls in relation to insulin sensitivity, Office blood pressure, insulin sensit ivity (euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp) and body fat distribution (skinfolds, waist:hip ratio) were investigated in 36 women with PCOS a nd 55 controls [body mass index (BMI) for PCOS patients, mean (confide nce interval) 26.3 (24.6-28.2); controls, 25.1 (24.0-26.9)], and ambul atory 24 h blood pressure was recorded in representative subgroups of 17 and 16 women respectively, Compared with the controls, the women wi th PCOS had higher day-time systolic (mean +/- SD, 126 +/- 11 versus 1 19 +/- 12 mm Hg, P < 0.05) and mean arterial blood pressures (92 +/- 7 versus 86 +/- 7 mm Hg, P < 0.05) in ambulatory recordings, and greate r increases in pulse rate (70%; P < 0.05) from night to day-time recor dings, whereas the groups did not differ significantly in day-time dia stolic blood pressure (74 +/- 6 versus 70 +/- 6 mm Hg, P = 0.05) or in night-time recordings. The women with PCOS had a more pronounced trun cal-abdominal fat distribution (P < 0.05) and a lower insulin-mediated glucose disposal (P < 0.01) during the clamp, The increased day-time blood pressures in women with PCOS persisted after adjusting for BMI, body fat distribution and insulin resistance, It is concluded that wom en with PCOS have an increased prevalence of labile blood pressure, wh ich may indicate a pre-hypertensive state, adding a further risk facto r for cardiovascular disease in these women.