Cardiopulmonary impairment in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Context: Insulin resistance is a feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and it is related to mitochondrial function, particularly with maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max). At the moment, no evaluation of cardiopulmonary functional capacity in young patients with PCOS has been performed. Objective: Our objective was to assess cardiopulmonary functional capacity in young PCOS overweight patients. Design and Setting:Weconducted a prospective baseline-controlled clinical study at University "Federico II" of Naples, School of Medicine (Naples, Italy). Patients: Forty-five PCOS patients were matched with 45 healthy women for age (mean ± SD, 21.3 ± 2.0 vs. 21.6 ± 1.9 yr, respectively) and body mass index (29.4 ± 3.6 vs. 29.0 ± 3.4 kg/m², respectively). Mean Outcome Measures: We assessed hormonal and metabolic pattern and functional capacity by cardiopulmonary exercise testing to evaluate maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max), oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold (VO _2AT), and the maximal workload at peak exercise. Results: VO _2max (17.0 ± 3.7 vs. 26.8 ± 3.5 ml/kg·min), oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold (13.9 ± 3.0 vs. 21.2 ± 3.8 ml/kg·min), and maximal workload at peak exercise (101.3 ± 25.2 vs. 135 ± 22.6 W) were significantly (P <0.001) reduced in PCOS subjects compared with healthy women. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that only homeostasis model assessment appears to have a strong negative linear relation with VO_2max in PCOS. No relation was found in controls. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate a reduced cardiopulmonary functional capacity in young PCOS patients.