Table 1.
Clinical features of women with PCOS and control subjects
| Control | PCOS | |
|---|---|---|
| n | 187 | 287 |
| Age (years) | 33.0 (17.0) | 27.5 (11.5)* |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 24.1 (6.4) | 34.7 (13.5)* |
| WHR | 0.78 (0.08) | 0.83 (0.10)* |
| mFG score | 0 (0) | 7.0 (5.0)* |
| Hirsute (%) | 0 | 73.9* |
| Total testosterone (nmol/l) | 1.42 (0.92) | 2.77 (1.07)* |
| Free testosterone (pmol/l) | 12.1 (9.0) | 29.1 (16.3)* |
| DHEAS (μmol/l) | 2.58 (2.03) | 5.66 (4.61)* |
| SHBG (nmol/l)† | 220.0 (120.0) | 150.0 (70.0)* |
| Insulin (pmol/l) | 49.5 (45.9) | 129.15 (129.2)* |
| Glucose (mmol/l) | 4.77 (0.56) | 4.77 (0.72) |
| HOMA-IR | 0.92 (0.83) | 2.29 (1.93)* |
| HOMA-%B | 103.9 (59.5) | 175.3 (99.3)* |
Data are median (interquartile range).
*
P < 0.001 compared with control group.
†
SHBG activity was measured by competitive binding analysis using Sephadex G-25 and [3H]testosterone as the ligand; this assay gives values of approximately 100–300 nmol/l in normal adult women. DHEAS, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; HOMA-%B, β-cell function estimated by the homeostasis model assessment; HOMA-IR, insulin resistance estimated by the homeostasis model assessment; mFG score, modified Ferriman-Gallwey hirsutism score; SHBG, sex hormone–binding globulin; WHR, waist-to-hip ratio.