Introduction:

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an entity that, beyond the reproductive affectations that characterize it, constitutes a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This aspect acquires greater relevance because the associated entity is not only increasing among the women who suffers from the syndrome, but also among their family members.

Objective:

To show that first-degree relatives of women with polycystic ovary syndrome present a higher frequency of carbohydrate metabolism disorders, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.

Methods:

A cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out with 36 first-degree relatives of women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome. They underwent physical examination to check their weight, height and blood pressure, in order to rule out hypertension at the time of inclusion.

Results:

The mean HOMA-IR index was 3.3 in the study group and 2.4 in the control group. The two-hour glucose tolerance test permitted to diagnose impaired fasting glucose in nine relatives, five (55.6%) from the study group and four (44.4%) from the control group. Seven relatives were reported with impaired glucose tolerance, six (85.7%) relatives of women with the syndrome and one (14.3%) from the control group.

Conclusions:

The classic cardiovascular risk factors studied are more frequent in the relatives of women with polycystic ovary syndrome than in the relatives of women without this disease.

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