Assessment of Neck Circumference and Lipid Profile in Subjects with Polycystic Ovary Syndromes

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, often linked to obesity and abnormal lipid levels. Neck circumference (NC) has become a straightforward, non-invasive anthropometric indicator of upper-body fat and metabolic risk. This research sought to evaluate changes in NC and lipid profiles in women with PCOS and investigate their relationship.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was executed with 40 women diagnosed with PCOS and 40 age-matched controls without PCOS. Anthropometric measurements, such as body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), were documented. Lipid profiles after fasting-including total cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were assessed.

Results: Although age was not significantly differ across groups (p-value = 0.54), women with PCOS displayed notably higher BMI (p-value = 0.03), NC (p = 0.00), WC (p-value =0.00), and HC (p-value = 0.00). Analysis of lipid profiles showed markedly increased levels of CHOL, TG, LDL, and VLDL (all p-value = 0.00) and decreased HDL (p-value = 0.00) in women with PCOS compared to controls. In the PCOS group, NC exhibited a notable positive correlation with TG (r = 0.38, p-value = 0.02) and VLDL (r = 0.38, p-value = 0.02), but did not show any correlation with CHOL, HDL, or LDL.

Conclusion: Women with PCOS show greater neck circumference and a poorer lipid profile than those without PCOS. The positive relationship between NC and TG and VLDL indicates that NC could act as a potential screening method for dyslipidemia in PCOS, necessitating additional research in larger groups.