Ovarian Condition Can Lead to Heart Disease

According to a study report published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, comparatively young obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome face an increased risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis. The condition develops regardless of the presence of other known heart disease risk factors.

Atherosclerosis is also generally referred to as hardening of the arteries. Polycystic ovarian syndrome on the other hand is a hormone disorder that normally affects women in their 20s and 30s. The condition leads to enlargement of the ovaries with numerous cysts surrounded by a thick, scarred capsule. It can lead to irregular or no menstrual periods, excessive hair growth and infertility.

For their study, Dr. Rupal Shroff and colleagues from the University of Iowa followed 24 obese women between the ages of 21 and 50 years. All of them had polycystic ovarian syndrome. Another 24 women of the same weight and age but without polycystic ovarian syndrome were studied as controls.

The research team found that 8 of the 24 women (33%) with polycystic ovarian syndrome showed indication of early stages of atherosclerosis in the form of coronary artery calcium compared to just 2 of the 24 (8%) in the control group. The women with polycystic ovarian syndrome thus had more than a five-fold risk of developing the heart condition compared to normal women.

No traces of traditional heart disease risk factors were found in majority of women with coronary artery calcium. This led the researchers to suggest that polycystic ovarian syndrome might be associated with coronary artery calcium.

“These findings underscore the need to screen and aggressively counsel and treat these women to prevent symptomatic cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Shroff said. Long-term studies to follow the progression of coronary artery calcium in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are “urgently needed,” Dr. Shroff and colleagues concluded in their report.

Related Discussions hTERT for Heart Disease Polypill for Heart Disease Would Work Sleep apnea and heart disease

Related Articles Heart Disease, Eye Condition Share Common Link Low testosterone can lead to heart disease in men Excess Antioxidant Can Lead to Heart Disease