Does CVD Risk Associated With PCOS Vary With Age?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk that is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) varies with age, according to a new analysis. Women with PCOS who are aged younger than 40 years are at the highest risk.

The researchers came to this conclusion after reviewing data from 60,574 women identified via the Danish National Assisted Reproductive Technology-Couple II Cohort, the National Patient Register, the Civil Registration System, and the Medical Birth Register.

PCOS and CVD events were identified via ICD-10 codes. The association was evaluated overall and then age-stratified by the following categories: younger than 30 years, 30 to 34 years, 35 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years, and 50 years or older.

Overall, 10.2% of the cohort had PCOS. After a median follow-up period of 8.9 years, 2925 woman had developed CVD.

Women with PCOS had a higher CVD risk than women without PCOS, even after the researchers adjusted for covariates. After adjusting for body mass index, smoking, and alcohol use, the greater CVD risk remained for women with PCOS overall.

Results of the age-stratified sub-analysis showed that women with PCOS who were older than age 50 did not have an increased CVD risk, but women aged younger than 40 years did have an increased CVD risk.

“In conclusion, women with PCOS are at greater CVD risk, with evidence of a higher risk for women in their 30s and 40s,” the researchers concluded. “Further investigation of how the association between PCOS and CVD varies with age is warranted within the general population.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:
Oliver-Williams C, Vassard D, Pinborg A, Schmidt L. Risk of cardiovascular disease for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: results from a national Danish registry cohort study. Published online August 2, 2020. Eur J Prev Cardiol. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487320939674