Introduction:

The polycystic ovary syndrome is frequently associated to cardiometabolic alterations; and its relation with the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype has been poorly studied in Cuba.

Objective:

Identify the frequency of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in middle age women with polycystic ovary syndrome and its association with insulin resistance, disorders in the glucose metabolism and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods:

Descriptive, cross-sectional study in 30 women. As clinical variables there were used: age, weight, size, body mass index, waist-hip circumference, waist/hip index, blood pressure; glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c and LDL-c concentrations, and HOMA-IR index. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by a carotid doppler and an echocardiogram (left ventricular hypertrophy and epicardial fat). The hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was defined as high triglycerides levels (≥ 1.7 mmol/L) and CC ≥ 80 cm.

Results:

The frequency of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was 43.3% (13/30). The mean values of abdominal circumference, blood pressure, as well as glycemia (p < 0.003), insulinaemia (p = 0.028), triglycerides (p < 0.0001), and HOMA-IR index (p = 0.012) were higher in the group of women with that condition. Although there were not significant differences, the frequency of women with increase of the carotid intima-media thickness and epicardical fat was higher in those with the phenotype.

Conclusions:

The presence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype is frequent in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome, and it is associated with alterations of the glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. This can be used in the clinical practice as a marker of risk for cardiometabolic alterations.

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