Table 5.
Characteristics of the women according to PCOS * status assessed at the end of the follow-up.
| Characteristic | Resolved PCOS (n = 17) | Persistent PCOS (n = 14) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at follow-up (years) | 37.6 (35–42.2) | 34.2 (30.2–34.9) | 0.05 |
| BMI at follow-up (kg/m2) | 25.56 (21.07–28.83) | 33.38 (21.98–39.13) | 0.08 |
| BMI at baseline (kg/m2) | 23.80 (21.45–27.82) | 30.09 (21.77–36.77) | NS |
| Waist circumference at follow-up (cm) | 86 (76–95) | 107.5 (80–126) | 0.04 |
| Waist circumference at baseline (cm) | 78 (71–85) | 95 (71–110) | NS |
| Fat mass at follow-up (%) | 31.3 (22.7–37.5) | 41.5 (27.7–50) | 0.03 |
| Fat mass at baseline (%) | 34.0 (27.5–38.5) | 38.05 (27.5–48.1) | NS |
| Glucose 0′ at follow-up (mg/dL) | 91 (89–102) | 96 (90–103) | NS |
| Glucose 0′ at baseline (mg/dL) | 81 (78–86) | 86.55 (83–94.4) | 0.08 |
| Mean glucose at follow-up (mg/dL) | 104.75 (97.25–147.25) | 125.63 (109.5–147) | NS |
| Mean glucose at baseline (mg/dL) | 101.5 (91.25–114.75) | 112.39 (96–123.25) | NS |
| Insulin 0′ at follow-up (uIU/mL) | 8.2 (6.15–11.54) | 16.54 (7.3–20.31) | 0.02 |
| Insulin 0′ at baseline (uIU/mL) | 10.53 (7.4–14.54) | 16.22 (11.7–25.8) | 0.04 |
| Mean insulin at follow-up (uIU/mL) | 45.8 (35.62–52.66) | 69.25 (35.68–105.37) | 0.08 |
| Mean insulin at baseline (uIU/mL) | 54.5 (37.55–83.25) | 84.81 (63.26–116.93) | 0.09 |
| Matsuda index at follow-up | 5.2 (3.06–6.56) | 2.07 (1.7–5.62) | 0.07 |
| Matsuda index at baseline | 4.23 (2.71–6.42) | 2.29 (1.8–4.02) | 0.04 |
| HOMA-IR score at follow-up | 1.82 (1.35–2.71) | 4.15 (1.52–5.09) | 0.03 |
| HOMA-IR score at baseline | 2.24 (1.41–2.99) | 3.52 (2.51–5.91) | 0.02 |
| HOMA-%β at follow-up | 90.31 (75.2–109.31) | 141.57 (115.16–192.38) | 0.006 |
| HOMA-%β at baseline | 190.29 (164.77–346.5) | 252.44 (195.88–298.59) | NS |
| Prediabetes at follow-up n (%) | 7 (41%) | 7 (50%) | NS |
| Triglycerides at follow-up (mg/dL) | 63 (50–83) | 116 (58–210) | 0.03 |
| Triglycerides at baseline (mg/dL) | 65 (48.6–86) | 120.1 (76–172) | 0.02 |
| HDL-c at follow-up (mg/dL) | 69 (56–73) | 52.5 (42–85) | NS |
| HDL-c at baseline (mg/dL) | 63 (53–69) | 56 (43–66.2) | NS |
| Systolic blood pressure at follow-up (mmHg) | 122 (110–125) | 127 (116–132) | NS |
| Systolic blood pressure at baseline (mmHg) | 120 (110–125) | 120 (110–130) | NS |
| LH at follow-up (mIU/mL) | 4.53 (3.78–5.56) | 4.68 (3.81–9.91) | NS |
| LH at baseline (mIU/mL) | 7.7 (4.5–10.62) | 8.3 (5.5–11.2) | NS |
| FSH at follow-up (mIU/mL) | 6.64 (5.5–7.99) | 4.86 (4.54–5.26) | 0.01 |
| FSH at baseline (mIU/mL) | 6.9 (5.6–8.01) | 4.95 (3.64–5.9) | 0.01 |
| LH/FSH at follow-up | 0.7 (0.49–0.87) | 1.05 (0.76–1.88) | 0.02 |
| LH/FSH at baseline | 1.1 (0.83–1.44) | 1.81 (1.29–2.26) | 0.01 |
| TT at follow-up (ng/mL) | 0.37 (0.32–0.48) | 0.63 (0.5–0.89) | 0.0002 |
| TT at baseline (ng/mL) | 0.63 (0.46–0.73) | 0.63 (0.52–0.88) | NS |
| SHBG at follow-up (nmol/L) | 56.75 (43.35–70.97) | 32.44 (23.36–87.35) | 0.09 |
| SHBG at baseline (nmol/L) | 45.13 (31.62–60.90) | 31.98 (20.45–61.5) | NS |
| FAI at follow-up | 2.2 (1.36–2.44) | 8.12 (3.53–10.01) | 0.006 |
| FAI at baseline | 4.3 (3.74–7.74) | 5.16 (3.67–10.34) | NS |
| A4 at follow-up (ng/mL) | 3.75 (2.65–4.69) | 5.06 (3.84–6.32) | 0.01 |
| DHEAS at follow-up (µg/dL) | 179.3 (155–281) | 253.15 (217.6–299.3) | NS |
| 17-OHP at follow-up (ng/mL) | 1.03 (0.89–1.38) | 1.32 (1.1–1.72) | 0.07 |
| AMH at follow-up (ng/mL) | 2.51 (1.49–3.45) | 8.68 (6.36–14.1) | 0.0003 |
| AMH at baseline (ng/mL) | 7.24 (5.46–9.45) | 11.39 (8.39–14.1) | 0.02 |
| E-selectin at follow-up (ng/mL) | 11.34 (10.49–16.80) | 14.4 (12.14–18.69) | NS |
| E-selectin at baseline (ng/mL) | 27.20 (16.72–37.15) | 30.91 (26.59–46.2) | NS |
| Ovarian follicle number at follow-up (n = 30) | 12 (10–17) | 23 (17–28) | 0.003 |
| Ovarian volume at follow-up (mL) | 8.3 (7.24–12.8) | 13.4 (10.13–20.4) | 0.04 |
| Attempts of pregnancy a (months) | 2.5 (1.25–12) n = 12 | 48 (24–84) n = 7 | 0.02 |
Data are expressed as median (25–75% quartiles) or numbers (%). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. * PCOS defined according to ESHRE 2003. a The period between the beginning of trying for a baby and confirmation of a pregnancy (assessed only in the women who gave birth). Abbreviations: A4, androstenedione; AMH, anti-Müllerian hormone; BMI, body mass index; DHEAS, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; FAI, free androgen index; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; HDL-c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance; HOMA-%β, homeostasis model assessment β-cell function; LH, luteinizing hormone; NS, statistically nonsignificant; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; SHBG, sex hormone-binding globulin; TT, total testosterone; 17-OHP, 17-hydroxyprogesterone.