Value of visceral fat assessment in identifying metabolic syndrome in overweight females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

D. Stoian, D. B. Navolan

Abstract: The study assesses the usefulness of a new method of calculating the visceral fat in identifying metabolic syndrome (MetS) in overweight females diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Study Design. Prospective diagnostic study. Study group: 49 overweight females with PCOS (Rotterdam 2003 diagnostic criteria), and 99 without PCOS as controls, recruitment period: 09.2008 - 03.2010. Body composition analysis: segmental bioimpedance assessment. Morphometric and biological parameters were measured. The assessed visceral fat was used as a new screening tool for MetS in overweight patients with PCOS. Statistical analysis. descriptive analysis, equal variance T test, Receiver operating curve for diagnostic value assessment. Results. MetS incidence: 26.53% of PCOS cases and 19.59% in controls. Estimating visceral fat has a good sensitivity (79.31%) and specificity (70.34%) in identifying MetS, with 7 as diagnostic threshold. Conclusion. Monitoring visceral fat can identity cases with MetS in PCOS patients without any further invasive approach.
Keywords: visceral fat, overweight, polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome