Neck Circumference Is a Reliable Predictor for Hyperuricemia in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in the women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is almost threefold higher than that in women without PCOS. Both PCOS and hyperuricemia are considered risk factors of metabolic disorders, including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Previous study has indicated that neck circumference (NC) is a good predictor for insulin resistance in women with PCOS. The present analysis thus aims to assess the predictive value of NC for hyperuricemia in women with PCOS.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that recruited one hundred ninety women with PCOS from January 2018 to December 2019. PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam definition. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid level of at least 357 μmol/L.Results: PCOS females with hyperuricemia had significantly greater values of NC, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC). NC was positively associated with serum uric acid levels, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.34 after adjusting for confounding factors. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that NC was significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.58. The associations between NC and serum uric acid levels were more evident in those with medium BMI (22.02 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 25.08 kg/m2), low WC (WC < 85 cm) or medium HC (90 cm ≤ HC < 96 cm). The optimal cutoff point of NC in predicting hyperuricemia was 32.0 cm (Youden index = 0.48), with the sensitivity and negative predictive value of 87.23% and 93.68%, respectively.Conclusions: Neck circumference is positively correlated with hyperuricemia and has a high negative predictive value for hyperuricemia in women with PCOS. Therefore, we suggest NC as a simple, novel, and reliable anthropometric measure to be used in the routine clinical assessment of women with PCOS to screen those at high risk of hyperuricemia.