Author(s): HUCKINS, W., VAN BERKEL, E.K., BERBRIER, D.E., USSELMAN, C.W., Institution: MCGILL UNIVERSITY, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 1877

INTRODUCTION:
The prevalence of virtually all cardiovascular diseases are elevated in females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases in PCOS continue to be elucidated, a number of cardiovascular risk factors have been well-established as being common to PCOS. These include elevated blood pressures (BP), impaired endothelial function, and greater adiposity. Although these cardiovascular risk factors are effectively managed with exercise in other populations, short-term (e.g. 12-16 week) exercise intervention studies show conflicting results in females with PCOS. Thus, we used a cross-sectional approach to examine whether established differences in cardiovascular risk persist between females with and without PCOS (i.e. CTRL) who undertake habitual exercise training, defined as a minimum of 5 hours of structured moderate-vigorous physical activity weekly over the last year.
METHODS:
Females with PCOS (n=7) and CTRL (n=7) were matched by age (24 ± 5 vs. 23 ± 6 yrs, respectively) and body mass index ([BMI]; 22.6 ± 2.2 vs. 22.6 ± 2.2 kg/m2, respectively). Blood pressure was assessed via manual sphygomomanometry, endothelial function was quantified as %FMD according to standardized methodology, and body composition was assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry.
RESULTS:
Systolic BP (109 ± 6 vs. 105 ± 4 mmHg, P=0.22), and diastolic BP (69 ± 6 vs. 65 ± 4 mmHg, P=0.26) were not different between PCOS and CTRL. Likewise, %FMD was not different between PCOS and CTRL (7.6 ± 2.5 vs. 8.8 ± 2.2%, P=0.34). Similarly, neither android fat (1.00 ± 0.36 vs. 0.94 ± 0.37 kg, P=0.76), gynoid fat (3.59 ± 0.94 vs. 3.40 ±1.08 kg, P=0.73), android/gynoid ratio (0.28 ± 0.06 vs.0.28 ± 0.07 g, P=0.96), or whole-body fat (29.86 ± 4.02 vs. 27.57 ± 5.29 %, P=0.40) were different between PCOS and CTRL
CONCLUSION:
These preliminary findings suggest that habitual physical activity may be effective in mitigating the established negative cardiovascular consequences of PCOS. Future research is warranted in investigating the most effective type and frequency of physical activity in reducing cardiovascular risk amongst females with PCOS.