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Objectives: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle‐aged women with PCOS, compared with age‐matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10‐year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Participants: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age‐matched controls. Measurements: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten‐year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) was measured. Results: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P <.001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P <.001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10‐year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. Conclusions: Middle‐aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age‐matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10‐year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long‐term follow‐up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning long‐term risk for CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) enter menopause before age 40. Early menopause was associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), death from cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality. We compared the prevalence of CAD between middle‐aged women on average 10 years following the initial POI diagnosis, with a population‐based cohort. Design: Cross‐sectional case‐control study. Participants: Women from two Dutch University Medical Centers above 45 years of age previously diagnosed with POI (n = 98) were selected and compared with age‐ and race‐matched controls from the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Measurements: The primary outcome was detectable coronary artery calcium (CAC) determined by coronary computed tomography (CCT). Results: Women with POI had significantly higher blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, despite lower BMI compared to controls. Similar proportions of detectable CAC (CAC score >0 Agatston Units) were observed in women with POI and controls (POI n = 16 (16%), controls n = 52 (18%), P = 0.40 and Padj = 0.93). In women with POI separately, we were not able to identify associations between CVD risk factors and CAC. The following CVD risk factors in controls were positively associated with CAC: age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and LDL cholesterol. HRT use was negatively associated with CAC in controls. Conclusions: The presence of CAC did not differ significantly in women with POI around 50 years of age, compared to an age‐ and race‐matched control group. We observe no increased calcified coronary disease in POI patients, despite the presence of unfavourable cardiovascular risk factors in these women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]