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Subject Area

Internal Medicine

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective To assess the presence of metabolic risk in women with hirsutism and to determine if the site of hirsutism can be a predictor of metabolic syndrome. Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and idiopathic hirsutism (IH) are the most common causes of hirsutism. Patients and methods A total of 90 women were included. They were divided into group 1, which included 30 women with IH; group 2, which included 30 women with PCOS; and group 3, which included 30 healthy women representing a control group. Participants underwent examination including hirsutism assessment and investigations, including fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and lipid profile. Results Waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure were higher in PCOS group than in control group (P = 0.028 and 0.005, respectively), and systolic blood pressure was higher in PCOS than in the IH group and control group (P = 0.015 and 0.002, respectively). Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides were higher in PCOS group than in control group (P = 0.01, 0.013, and 0.049, respectively). Fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance were higher in IH group than in control group (P = 0.004, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) and were higher in PCOS group than in control group (P < 0.001, <0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). A total of 25 (27.78%) women had the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome, with no significant difference between groups 1and 2 (P = 0.058). The most significant predictor of metabolic syndrome in all hirsute women based on hirsutism sites was the thigh (t=−10.319, P < 0.001). Conclusions Women with hirsutism carry a high metabolic risk; the thigh area was the optimum predictor of metabolic syndrome regardless of the etiology.

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