Would you check a 28-year-old, non-obese woman with irregular periods for heart disease? Many clinicians would not. However, a new prospective cohort study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reported that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease and heart attacks. The risk is irrespective of their genetic predisposition. The risk was most pronounced in young, non-obese women.

The research, based on data from 3,864 participants in the UK Biobank (645 with PCOS), tracked long-term CVD incidence between 2006 and 2010. Compared with women without PCOS, those with the condition had a 77% higher overall CVD risk [hazard ratio (HR)=1.77], more than two-fold risk of coronary artery disease (HR=2.27) and a similar twofold risk of myocardial infarction (HR=2.08). The findings were consistent even after accounting for genetic factors.

Current treatments for PCOS have shown no significant effect in lowering CVD risk. Thus, there is a need for customized treatment strategies. The study identified discoidin, CUB, and LCCL domain-containing protein 2 (DCBLD2) as a potential biomarker for CVD in women with PCOS. It may assist in early detection and intervention.

Key Takeaways

PCOS increases the risk of CVD, especially coronary artery disease and heart attacks, independent of genetics, with young, non-obese women particularly at high risk. DCBLD2 may be a promising biomarker for identifying CVD risk in PCOS patients.