Frequency of insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A study from Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: to assess frequency of insulin resistance (ir) in patients, presenting with polycystic ovarian syndrome using simple indices of insulin resistance and to determine the association of clinical manifestations of pcos with insulin resistance indices. methodology: this cross sectional study was carried out at baqai institute of diabetology and endocrinology (bide). one hundred patients fulfilling the revised 2003 rotterdam diagnostic criteria for pcos were included. descriptive statistics were calculated using frequency and mean with standard deviation. insulin resistance (ir) was calculated using fasting insulin levels (> 10 iu/ml), fasting glucose : insulin ratio (> 4.5). different surrogate marker of ir like homa-ir (> 2.6), quicki (< 0.357) and mcauley (< 5.8) were calculated. results: the value for homa-ir, quicki and mcauley in patients of pcos were 65%, 88% and 51.2% respectively. patients having fasting insulin level (> 10 iu/ml) were 75.32%. menstrual irregularities were the commonest presentation followed by obesity, hirsutism and infertility. there was a strong association of bmi with various menstrual irregularities, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. conclusion: a significant high rate of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance has been observed in our patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome. majority of clinical manifestation are found to be associated with insulin resistance indices