Neck circumference a useful predictor of insulin resistance in PCOS

Measuring neck circumference in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) helps identify those at risk of insulin resistance (IR), a study has found.

The study included 143 patients with PCOS, of which 92 (64.3 percent) were diagnosed with IR. These women were younger than those without the condition (mean age, 26.6 vs 28.8 years; p=0.006).

Moreover, the IR group had significantly greater values of systolic blood pressure (mean 121.9 vs 116.1 mm Hg; p=0.004), neck circumference (mean, 37.3 vs 33.9 cm; p<0.001), body mass index (median, 29.9 vs 22.8 kg/m²; p<0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (mean, 0.9 vs 0.8; p<0.001), waist circumference (mean, 94.6 vs 79.4 cm; p<0.001), fasting blood glucose (5.2 vs 4.7 mmol/L; p<0.001), fasting insulin (median, 130.7 vs 55.3 pmol/L; p<0.001), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; p<0.001).

In multivariable regression models, neck circumference was significantly associated with HOMA-IR (log-transformed), with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.330. Individuals with higher neck circumference measure were at increased risk of IR (odds ratio, 1.423, 95 percent confidence interval, 1.166–1.738; p=0.001).

Furthermore, neck circumference at the cut-off point of 34.3 cm showed a good performance in predicting IR in women with PCOS (Youden index, 0.586).

The findings indicate that neck circumference represents a simple, practical, and reliable anthropometric measure for pinpointing PCOS patients at risk of IR, researchers said. This has important implications as early identification of IR should facilitate treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders and reduce long-term health risks.