Is metabolic syndrome a fellow traveler with abnormal uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age? A case–control study

Background and Aim: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) has a major social, psychological, and economic impact on women aged 18–45 years, in the most productive stage of their life. This study was done to assess the impact of menstrual and obstetric patterns, cardiometabolic risk factors, and metabolic syndrome on women of reproductive age with AUB. Materials and Methods: Our hospital-based case–control study had 61 participants, of which 31 were cases and 30 were age-matched controls. They were compared on their age, age of menarche and marriage, number and type of deliveries, contraceptives used, cardiometabolic risk factors like body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and having metabolic syndrome. Results: The majority of the cases were 36–45 years of age. The mean age of marriage was significantly less but the parity was more ≥2 in cases when compared to controls. FBS, TC, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL in cases were significantly more than controls. A 33.3% of cases had metabolic syndrome. Women with metabolic syndrome were 15 times more likely to develop AUB, as compared to normal women. Conclusion: Age of menarche did not influence but lower age of marriage and increased number of pregnancies had a profound effect on the occurrence of AUB. Metabolic syndrome is significantly associated and could be a potential fellow traveler in women with AUB.