Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in fathers of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have twice the risk for metabolic syndrome as compared to women from the general population. Mothers and sisters of affected women also have an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in fathers of patients with PCOS.

34 fathers of PCOS patients were evaluated. The control group was 34 fathers of normal women. The data were obtained from the clinical history and personal interview with the patients, the controls and their fathers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2009. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was determined according to Adult Treatment Panel index III (ATPIII) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Also incidence of hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance and diabetes type II were considered in both groups.

According to ATPIII and IDF criteria, the prevalence of metabolic disorders was 29.35% and 41.17 in the fathers of the PCOS patients and 8.85% and 11.76 % in the fathers of the control group, respectively (p <0.008 and p<0.007, respectively). Also incidence of hypertension and impaired glcose tolerance test was significantly higher in fathers of the PCOS patients than control group (p< 0.05.

Our findings indicate that the fathers of women with PCOS have higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and higher risk of developing hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes.