Clin Ter. 2026 Jan-Feb;177(1):123-129. doi: 10.7417/CT.2026.1983.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder with both reproductive and metabolic manifestations. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), is defined by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal free thyroxine levels, is increasingly recognized in women with PCOS, yet its clinical impact remains debated. This study intended to explore the prevalence of SCH in PCOS and examine its influence on metabolic, hormonal, and anthropometric profiles in an Indian population.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2023 and January 2025 at a tertiary care center in South India. A total of 368 women with PCOS, diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria, were enrolled and classified as either euthyroid (n = 316) or having SCH (n = 52). Comprehensive evaluations included anthropometry, blood pressure, glycemic indices, lipid profile, insulin resistance via HOMA-IR, and reproductive hormone levels. Statistical analyses included t-tests and Spearman correlation.
RESULTS: The prevalence of SCH among women (with PCOS) was 14.13%. Compared with the euthyroid group, SCH-PCOS patients exhibited significantly higher BMI, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and adverse lipid profiles (p < 0.05). No significant diffe-rences were observed in LH, FSH, or testosterone levels. TSH demonstrated positive correlations with BMI, Glycemic markers, and HOMA-IR, underscoring its association with metabolic risk.
CONCLUSION: SCH is a common and metabolically relevant comorbidity in women with PCOS, aggravating insulin resistance and dyslipi-demia without significantly affecting reproductive hormones. These findings highlight the need for routine thyroid function screening in PCOS management, especially among those with metabolic syndrome features. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to evaluate the benefits of targeted thyroid intervention in this subgroup.
PMID:41525122 | DOI:10.7417/CT.2026.1983
