Objective: To analyze the characteristics of abnormal glucose tolerance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with plasma glucose and serum insulin (INS) levels was performed in 257 PCOS patients. The states of glucose tolerance were classified by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and plasma glucose at 120 minutes according to the Word Health Organization (WHO) criterion.
Results: According to the WHO criteria, 69.3% were classified as normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 30.7% as with abnormal glucose metabolism, with 26.1% of them presenting impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 4.7% diabetes mellitus (DM). Age, BMI, fasting glucose or 2 h glucose concentration, fasting insulin or 2 h glucose concentration and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) increased gradually among NGT, IGT and 2DM. QUICKI and the ratio of fasting glucose/ fasting insulin decreased gradually. The prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance was significantly higher after 30 years old. There was significant correlation between abnormal glucose tolerance and age or BMI. A positive correlation was found between BMI and fasting glucose or 2-h glucose concentration.
Conclusion: Abnormal glucose tolerance was correlated with age and BMI in PCOS patients. Insulin resistance is the mechanistic basis of abnormal glucose tolerance. Thus PCOS patients should be screened by glucose tolerance at an early time and a regular interval.