New Study Finds Women with PMOS Face Quadruple Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

A landmark study of over 2.4 million women reveals that those with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly PCOS, face a four-fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Led by Dr. Anuja Dokras and Dr. Snigdha Alur-Gupta, the research shows that traditional risk factors like obesity and diabetes explain only a third of this gap. Experts urge early heart screenings and lifestyle interventions, such as 150 minutes of weekly exercise, to manage this elevated vascular risk.

PMOS cardiovascular disease risk

• ▪A study published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health found that women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) have a four-fold higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• ▪Women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) are 5 times more likely to experience a transient ischemic attack and 4.98 times more likely to develop peripheral artery disease.
• ▪Women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) are 3.5 times more likely to have a heart attack and 3.5 times more likely to have an ischemic stroke.
• ▪Over a 10-year period, approximately 12% of women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) developed heart or artery disease compared to 4% of the comparison group.

Study methodology

• ▪The study analyzed medical claims data from Optum's Clinformatics Data Mart spanning the years 2000 to 2022.
• ▪The retrospective cohort study analyzed health insurance claims data from 413,450 pre-menopausal women aged 18 to 50 diagnosed with PMOS and compared them to 2,067,250 matched controls without the condition.
• ▪The study was led by reproductive endocrinologist Snigdha Alur-Gupta of the University of Rochester and Anuja Dokras, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Pennsylvania.

PCOS to PMOS renaming

• ▪The renaming initiative was led by a global consortium spearheaded by Helena Teede of the Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation.
• ▪Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was officially renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) in May 2026 to better reflect the condition's hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive impacts.
• ▪The term 'polyendocrine' indicates that multiple hormones are out of balance, 'metabolic' refers to risks associated with weight, insulin, and heart health, and 'ovarian' relates to reproductive health.

Metabolic mechanisms

• ▪Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, combined to mediate only 36.3% of the excess cardiovascular risk in women with PMOS.
• ▪Women with PMOS experience chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and elevated androgen levels, which contribute to arterial thickening and plaque buildup over time.

Screening recommendations

• ▪The study authors and outside experts recommend early cardiovascular risk screening, counseling, and long-term surveillance for all individuals diagnosed with PMOS.
• ▪Cardiologist Rachel M. Bond recommends that cardiovascular screenings for women with PMOS should evaluate blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight trajectory, physical activity, nutrition, sleep quality, and family history.

Prevention strategies

• ▪Weight management, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking are highlighted as critical lifestyle interventions to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk in women with PMOS.
• ▪Experts recommend that women with PMOS engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week and maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.