Objective: To evaluate the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) measurement of insulin resistance (IR) and pancreatic β-cell function (%β) and compare those values between groups of healthy-weight, over-weight, and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Study design: Retrospective cohort study of women aged 24-48 with PCOS, diagnosed according to 2004 Rotterdam criteria. Participants were grouped by BMI. Quantitative variables were compared by one-way ANOVA and the Tukey method. Analysis for power to detect a difference between means was conducted. Pearson correlation was used to test differences in frequency distribution.
Results: By BMI category, 29 participants were of healthy weight, 11 were overweight, and 11 were obese. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in obese women as compared to overweight and healthy-weight patients (2.88 ± 2.09, 1.13 ± 0.73, 0.84 ± 0.49, respectively; p <0.0001). Moreover, HOMA-%β was significantly increased in obese women as compared to overweight and healthy-weight patients (186.89 ± 131.62, 106.83 ± 46.77, 86.60 ± 40.91, respectively; p<0.0001). Adequate statistical power was not present to distinguish a difference between overweight and normal-weight participants. A positive linear correlation was found between log HOMA-IR and BMI, and between log HOMA-%β and BMI.
Conclusion: Obese PCOS patients have a higher risk of elevated insulin resistance and β-cell function than do those with BMI <30.