Obese Adolescent Girls with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Have More Severe Insulin Resistance Measured by HOMA-IR Score than Obese Girls without PCOS
Pairunyar Sawathiparnich MD*, Linda Weerakulwattana BSC, MSC*, Jeerunda Santiprabhob MD*, Supawadee Likitmaskul MD*
Affiliation : *Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital
The prevalence of obesity in Thai children is increasing. These individuals are at increased risks
of metabolic syndrome that includes insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), polycystic ovary
syndrome (PCOS), dyslipidemia and hypertension. PCOS has been known to be associated with insulin
resistance.
Objectives : To compare the insulin sensitivity between obese adolescent girls with PCOS and those without
PCOS.
Materials and Methods : We reviewed demographic and hormonal data of 6 obese adolescent girls with PCOS
and compared with 6 age, weight and BMI-matched non-PCOS controls. Each subject underwent an oral
glucose tolerance test.
Results : Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance score (HOMA-IR score) in obese adolescent
girls with PCOS was significantly higher than in girls without PCOS with median and range as follows
(16.5 [3.8, 21.8] vs. 4.1 [3.3, 6.9], p=0.04).
Our study demonstrates that obese adolescent girls with PCOS have more severe insulin resistance
measured by HOMA-IR score than girls without PCOS independent of the degree of obesity. Since insulin
resistance is a metabolic precursor of future cardiovascular diseases, obese adolescent girls with PCOS might
be at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later adulthood than their non-PCOS counterparts.
Keywords : Polycystic ovary syndrome, Obesity, Insulin resistance
