Nonobese young females with polycystic ovary syndrome are at high risk for long-term cardiovascular disease

Aims

Whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an independent risk factor for long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear, and the risk of CVD in easily overlooked young nonobese PCOS patients is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the associations of PCOS with CVD and identify the management priorities.

Methods and results

Three thousand and eight hundred sixty-four participants (645 with PCOS) from UK Biobank were recruited from 2006 to 2010. The cumulative incidences of the CVD were calculated and compared between patients with and without PCOS via the log-rank test. Cox proportional risk regression models were used to assess the relationships of PCOS with CVD and the impact of PCOS treatments on CVD risk. Polygenic risk scores and linkage disequilibrium score regression were used to assess the genetic-level associations. Then, proteomics subgroup cohort was conducted to explore the significant biomarker involved in the PCOS–CVD associations. Compared with participants without PCOS, participants with PCOS had greater risks of CVD [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–2.65], coronary artery disease (HR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.35–3.81), and myocardial infarction (HR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.11–3.90) independent of genetic risk, especially for young nonobese PCOS patients (Pfor interaction < 0.05). Current commonly used treatments did not affect CVD incidence. Proteomics cohort revealed that discoidin, CUB, and LCCL domain-containing protein 2 (DCBLD2) may be specific CVD biomarker for patients with PCOS.

Conclusion

Patients with PCOS had an increased risk of CVD, and young nonobese PCOS patients should be prioritized for CVD risk management. These findings support the necessity of clinical surveillance and suggest DCBLD2 as a possible CVD biomarker in females with PCOS.