Abstract
To determine whether there is a correlation between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure or clinical features such as hirsutism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
In this cross-sectional study, 62 women with PCOS were allocated to one of 3 groups according to a BMI range defining normal weight, overweight, or obesity. Blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, Ferriman and Gallwey hirsutism score, and presence of acne were recorded for each participant and the means were compared among groups.
The overall mean age was 35.85
±
5.03 years; BMI, 31.91
±
6.40; systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 113.02
±
16.10 mm Hg and 71.79
±
10.04 mm Hg; waist-to-hip ratio, 0.82
±
0.07; and hirsutism score, 3.63
±
4.35. Acne was present in 24 participants. Of these, 8 (33.3%) were overweight and 13 (54.2%) obese. When groups were compared, a progressive and significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed from the normal weight to the obese group.
We observed a significant and progressive correlation between BMI and both blood pressure and clinical features in women with PCOS.