The impact of ethnicity on the presentation of polycystic ovarian syndrome

The effect of ethnicity on the prevalence and presentation of polycystic ov arian syndrome (PCOS) was examined in a cross-sectional study of women with clinical - and ultrasound - diagnosed PCOS. European, Maori and Pacific Is land women were seen in proportion to the general population, whereas India n women were over-represented and Chinese women under-represented. European and Maori women were more likely to present with hirsutism than other ethn ic groups (43% versus 25%, p < 0.05), while European women were less likely to present with infertility (46% versus 68%, p < 0.01). The Pacific Island women had little or no acne but other signs of PCOS were similar among eth nic groups. Although less than 10% of patients were referred with obesity, the majority of PCOS women were overweight on examination. Maori and Pacifi c Island women were more obese and had the highest rates of insulin resista nce and lipid abnormalities. The adverse metabolic profile of many of these women, particularly the Maori and Pacific Islanders, is very likely to pre dispose them to early cardiovascular disease.