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A population-based study of the relationship between idiopathic hirsutism and metabolic disturbances

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the association of idiopathic hirsutism, insulin resistance and metabolic disorders.

Methods

Participants of this study included 137 women with idiopathic hirsutism and 698 women as controls selected from two large population-based cross-sectional studies including 1,772 reproductive-aged women. Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics of the participants were measured and compared; for instance, insulin resistance was estimated through the homeostatic model assessment and the metabolic syndrome was detected using the Joint Interim Statement.

Results

Mean age, body mass index and other anthropometric measures including waist and hip circumferences were statistically higher in women with idiopathic hirsutism. No differences were observed in blood pressure, glucose and lipid profiles, homeostatic model assessment or the prevalence of insulin resistance, obesity and metabolic syndrome in women with idiopathic hirsutism and controls after adjustment of age and body mass index. In the subgroup of women with metabolic syndrome, fasting glucose levels of those with idiopathic hirsutism were significantly higher than controls, after adjustment of age and body mass index as 114 ± 25.85 vs. 103.52 ± 41.90 mg/dL, P = 0.003. Furthermore, the age and body mass index-adjusted prevalence of impaired fasting glucose in women with idiopathic hirsutism were higher than controls as 16.8 vs. 4.6 %, OR = 2.26, 95 % CI 1.59–5.38. A threshold of 74.5 cm for waist circumference had the optimal combined sensitivity and specificity for prediction of insulin resistance in women with idiopathic hirsutism, though this value was 90.5 cm for controls.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that although the overall metabolic characteristics were similar in women with idiopathic hirsutism and controls, glycemic disturbances were more often seen in those suffered from metabolic syndrome and idiopathic hirsutism simultaneously.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. No conflict of interest is declared by the authors. The authors acknowledge Ms Niloofar Shiva for critical editing of English grammar and syntax of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No 24, Parvaneh Street, Yaman Street, Velenjak, Tehran, 19395-4763, Iran

    F. Ramezani Tehrani & S. Behboudi-Gandevani

  2. Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

    M. Simbar

  3. Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    F. Azizi

Authors
  1. F. Ramezani Tehrani
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  2. S. Behboudi-Gandevani
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  3. M. Simbar
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  4. F. Azizi
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Correspondence to F. Ramezani Tehrani.

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Ramezani Tehrani, F., Behboudi-Gandevani, S., Simbar, M. et al. A population-based study of the relationship between idiopathic hirsutism and metabolic disturbances. J Endocrinol Invest 38, 155–162 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0164-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0164-8

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