Correlation of perceived stress with waist-hip ratio, lipid profile, and fasting sugar in newly diagnosed patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in an Urban population of West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Higher prevalence of stress in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients may have a critical role in their altered body composition. Aims: The aim is to study the correlation of perceived stress with waist-hip ratio (WHR), lipid profile, and fasting sugar in newly diagnosed patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in an urban population of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional pilot project was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Burdwan Medical College, in a time span of 1 year after taking institutional ethical clearance and informed consent of the participants. One hundred newly diagnosed PCOS patients and 100 age-, dietary habit-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were included in the study. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores of the participants were assessed. Fasting blood samples were drawn from participants for analysis of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profile. Height, weight, BMI, WHR, resting pulse rate (measured after 15 min of rest with participants in supine posture), and blood pressure (measured by mercury manometer) were measured. The computer software 'Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16' was used to analyze the data, and unpaired t-test was used to compare different parameters of the two groups. Correlation of PSS with other parameters was assessed. Results: There was a significant difference in PSS, WHR, pulse, blood pressure, FBS, and lipid profile between the two groups. There was a significant positive correlation between PSS and WHR, FBS, and lipid profile, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was negatively correlated with PSS. However, no difference in BMI was observed. Conclusion: PCOS patients with higher PSS in spite of having equivalent BMI, dietary habits, and age may have higher WHR, dyslipidemia, and fasting sugar as compared to normal individuals. Stress management programs are need of the day for the highly stressed modernized global population.