eMedicineLive

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting women around puberty. Women suffering from PCOS are generally found to be insulin resistant as compared to normal women. This insulin resistance is responsible for early-onset type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary and other vascular disorders. As these cardiometabolic derangements can prove to be life threatening, it is necessary to find adequate ways of treating PCOS in order to stall the development of these risks.

 

Cardiovascular diseases can also be a result of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is also related with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and type2 diabetes. Women suffering from PCOS have an unusually high incidence rate of OSA. Until now it was not known whether treating OSA in women suffering from PCOS would have any outcome on the development of cardiometabolic derangements in such patients. A new study published in the Feb 2011 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism addresses this particular issue. 

 

The study conducted by Tasali E and colleagues is the first study of its kind to investigate the impact of treatment of OSA in women with PCOS. The study was designed to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of multiple components of cardiometabolic function before and after 8 wk of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of OSA in young obese women with PCOS. These components included insulin sensitivity and secretion (intravenous glucose tolerance test); 24-h profiles of plasma catecholamines, cortisol, and leptin; and daytime profiles of blood pressure and cardiac autonomic activity (heart rate variability). It was found that in young obese women with PCOS, successful treatment of OSA improves insulin sensitivity, decreases sympathetic output, and reduces diastolic blood pressure in the absence of any change in weight.

 

The study provides an important first step to our understanding how treatment of OSA with CPAP affects cardiometabolic function in women with PCOS and benefits them by reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

 

References:

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