Metabolic Syndrome among Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovarian syndrome is associated with a long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. This study aims to find the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome presenting to a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done on women attending the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital from June 2020 to May 2021. A total of 106 women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome using Rotterdam criteria 2003 were recruited for the study and cases of metabolic syndrome was defined according to the modified American Heart Association/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital (Reference number: 001-077/078). Convenience sampling was done. The collected data was entered and analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Calculation of point estimate at 95% confidence interval was done along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Among 106 women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, 50 (47.1%) had metabolic syndrome (37.59-56.60 at 95% Confidence Interval). The most common component of metabolic syndrome was low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in 90 (84.9%) followed by central obesity in 60 (56.6%), hypertriglyceridemia in 47 (44.33%), high fasting sugar in 34 (32.07%), and high blood pressure in 14 (13.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with the polycystic ovarian syndrome was similar to other studies done in similar settings.