Neck Circumference as a Predictor of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Bangladeshi Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Researchers have identified neck circumference (NC) as a valuable tool to detect obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS). We conducted this study to define cutoffs of NC to identify obesity, abdominal obesity, and MS in adult women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Adult women newly diagnosed with PCOS using the revised Rotterdam criteria having NC measure data in a cross-sectional study titled “Biochemical and Hormonal Profile of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” were analyzed. RESULTS: Finally, 200 women were analyzed; their mean age was 23.3 (±4.9) years, body mass index (BMI) 26.47 (±5.09) kg/m(2), NC 34.6 (±3.04) cm, waist circumference (WC) 88.18 (±11.98) cm, and visceral adiposity index (VAI) was 3.31 (±1.37). NC had positive correlations with age, BMI, WC, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride, VAI, and testosterone levels. NC cutoff 32.75 cm showed 87.3% sensitivity and 74.4% specificity in detecting abdominal obesity (AUC 0.889, P < 0.001) and 88.0% sensitivity and 68.0% specificity for diagnosis of overweight/obesity (AUC 0.877, P < 0.001). NC 34.25 cm showed 63.0% sensitivity and 64.0% specificity for diagnosis of MS (AUC 0.681, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Neck circumference may be a simple and convenient tool in assessing obesity, central obesity, and MS in women with PCOS.