Cardiovascular disease and inflammation

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not only a reproductive disorder, but also a complex, multifaceted, endocrine disease with several associated health complications. In fact, multiple lines suggest an increased cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular disease characterized by an impairment of cardiac structure and function, endothelial dysfunction, lipid abnormalities, and low-grade chronic inflammation. The increased prevalence of low-grade chronic inflammation in women with PCOS represents an emerging novel mechanism for cardiovascular disease in these women. All these features are likely linked to the insulin-resistance often present in women with PCOS. Cardiovascular disease and inflammation represent important long-term sequelae of PCOS that warrant further in-depth investigation.