Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in Asian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of abnormalities of glucose metabol ism in Asian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess the different impacts of the 1985 and 1999 WHO consultations and the ADA criter ia for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Eighty-five women with PCOS were consecutively included in the study at the Reproducti ve Endocrinology Unit, Department of Ob-Gyn, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. Ail women underwent a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGT T). Fasting insulin and testosterone levels were also measured. Results: Se venty-nine women consented to the OGTT. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 DM was 22.8 and 15.2% with the 1985 WHO criteria , and 20.3 and 17.7% according to the 1999 WHO consultation criteria, respe ctively. The recommendation of the ADA using the fasting glucose levels cou ld only determine a prevalence of 6.3% for type 2 DM. The fasting insulin a nd testosterone levels were significantly higher in DM than IGT and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) subgroups. The PCOS women with abnormalities of glu cose metabolism had a greater body mass index (BMI), higher fasting glucose and 2-h post-load glucose levels than those with NGT. The prevalence of gl ucose intolerance significantly increased with BMI. Conclusions: Similar to other ethnic populations, Asian women with PCOS are at risk of developing IGT and type 2 DM especially if obese. The recommendation of the ADA is not appropriate for the diagnosis of type 2 DM in PCOS women. (C) 2001 Interna tional Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. All rights reserved.