Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or dysmenorrhea (painful periods) are at an elevated cardiovascular risk, according to two separate studies.
The studies that evaluated the link between the two common reproductive health conditions and cardiovascular disease will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023 this month.
PCOS is a hormone disorder that affects one in 10 women of childbearing age. It occurs when ovaries produce an excessive amount of androgens, male sex hormones that typically occur in small quantities in females. Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual cycle problem that causes severe and frequent cramps and pain during menstruation.
The first study evaluated the link between PCOS and heart disease risk. It looked at the data of around 170,000 girls in the U.S. between 13 to 17 years. The team found that girls with PCOS were at 30% higher risk of high blood pressure compared to those without the condition. The prevalence of high blood pressure was 18.6% among those with PCOS, while it was 6.9% among those without the syndrome.
“While data are emerging on the cardiovascular effects of polycystic ovary syndrome throughout the lifespan, few studies have examined associated health risks specifically among adolescents,” said lead study author Sherry Zhang, from Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center in Oakland. “Studying adolescents will allow us to better identify possible cardiometabolic complications of polycystic ovary syndrome that may develop at a young age in hopes of reducing future cardiovascular risk.”
“These findings emphasize the importance of routine blood pressure monitoring and lifestyle modification in at-risk adolescents, including those with polycystic ovary syndrome, to prevent the development of hypertension,” Zhang said.
The study has certain limitations as it evaluated blood pressure based on a single measurement and did not assess the risk of persistent high blood pressure.
For estimating the link between…
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