How much insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome? Comparison of HOMA-IR and insulin resistance (Belfiore) index models

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the commonest endocrinopathy of women in reproductive age, is often accompanied by insulin resistance (IR), hirsutism and/or fertility problems. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of IR in women diagnosed with PCOS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 137 women diagnosed with PCOS, according to the Rotterdam consensus criteria (2003). Insulin resistance was assessed according to the HOMA-IR method and insulin resistance (Belfiore) index (IRI) derived from glucose and insulin during the oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: , respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The insulin resistance (Belfiore) index indicates more cases of insulin resistance than HOMA-IR in women with PCOS. Therefore, detection of insulin resistance among women with PCOS is highly method-dependent with more severe cases being detected with HOMA-IR than with IRI.