Abnormal Visceral Adiposity Index Among Females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and its Association with Phenotypes and Cardiometabolic Risk

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a frequently encountered endocrine disorder in females of reproductive age. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) is indicative of visceral adiposity and dysfunction. The study aimed to evaluate the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and its association with cardiometabolic risk in females with PCOS.

Methods:

This case-control study was done on 100 females diagnosed with PCOS as per Rotterdam's criteria and 50 age and body mass index (BMI) matched controls. Patients were studied for clinical characteristics, anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal investigations and ultrasound scans. Participants were classified into different phenotypes of PCOS. VAI was calculated using waist circumference (WC), BMI, serum triglyceride (TG), and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

Results:

The mean age of the subjects with PCOS was 28.8±10.6 years, whereas that of controls was 27.6±9.2 years. The phenotype D of PCOS was predominant form 47%, followed by phenotype C, A and B in 31%, 15% and 7%, respectively. Mean VAI was significantly higher in females with PCOS than controls (2.90 vs. 1.84) (P < 0.001). Mean VAI in phenotype A, B, C, and D was 3.46, 2.48, 2.37, and 1.98, respectively. Metabolic syndrome was prevalent in 28%. A total of 44% of women with PCOS were at risk and 32% at high risk for cardiometabolic disease. VAI was significantly associated with obesity, WC, hirsutism, phenotype A, plasma glucose, testosterone, TG and polycystic ovarian morphology. Logistic regression analysis showed that VAI positively correlated with obesity, WC, phenotype A and testosterone.

Discussion/Conclusion:

VAI can be used as a simple and effective tool for assessing the cardiometabolic risk in females with PCOS. VAI had a positive correlation with serum testosterone.