Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and its Correlation with Metabolic Syndrome: A Single Centre Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women. Women with PCOS have androgen excess as a defining feature. They also have increased insulin resistance and obesity, which are also risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, published data regarding PCOS as independent risk factor for NAFLD remain controversial. To determine the prevalence of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome in patients with PCOS, and to verify if there is a correlation between NAFLD and metabolic syndrome in this population.Material & Methods:The prospective study was developed to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and MS in adult women with PCOS. Patients were admitted to the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes (BIRDEM), Dhaka, Bangladesh which treats patients with Diabetes Mellitus from all over the country Bangladesh. The study sessions were conducted from January 2020 to December 2020.Results:A total 213 patients were included and analyzed into two groups. Of these, 153 were diagnosed with PCOS, and 60 had other diagnoses. In the PCOS group, 36 (23.53%) patients had NAFLD, and 117 (76.47%) patients did not have NAFLD. From the control group, only two patients had NAFLD, and NAFLD was absent in 58 (96.67%) patients. In the control group, we found 16 (26.67%) patients with metabolic syndrome (NCEP/ATP III criteria) and 44 (73.33%) patients without metabolic syndrome (NCEP/ATP III criteria). From another perspective, describes the PCOS group, there are 68(44.44%) patients with metabolic syndrome (IDF criteria) and 85 (55.56%) patients without metabolic syndrome (IDF criteria). In the control group, we found 22 (36.67%) patients with metabolic syndrome (IDF criteria) and 38 (63.33%) patients without metabolic syndrome (IDF criteria).Conclusions:The mechanism of development of NAFLD in PCOS women is not fully known. Besides the progress in the diagnosis of NAFLD in PCOS, there is a lack of knowledge about mechanisms that lead to the development of NAFLD in PCOS. Future studies which would integrate epidemiological, clinical, and molecular investigations about NAFLD in PCOS will have a key role in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of NAFLD in PCOS.