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STUDY QUESTION: Are certain ethnic groups with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at increased risk of metabolic disorders? SUMMARY ANSWER: Obese Hispanic women with PCOS are at increased risk of metabolic disorders compared with age-and BMI-matched obese non-Hispanic white women with PCOS in the USA. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Ethnic differences in body composition and metabolic risk are well established. PCOS is a common disorder in women of reproductive age and is associated with high rates of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A cross-sectional observational study was performed at an Academic Medical Center on 60 women of reproductive age with PCOS. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Blood was obtained after fasting from 17 Hispanic, 22 non-Hispanic black and 21 non-Hispanic white women with PCOS who were similar in age and BMI. Anthropometric parameters, insulin, lipid and lipoprotein levels (measured by nuclear magnetic resonance) were compared between the three groups. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE Of CHANCE: Age and BMI did not differ between the groups. Hispanic women with PCOS had higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.02), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = 0.03) and a more atherogenic lipid and lipoprotein profile consisting of lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.02), higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle number (P = 0.02), higher very low-density lipoprotein particle (VLDL) size (P = 0.03) and lower LDL (P = 0.03) and HDL particle size (P = 0.005) compared with non-Hispanic white women. The differences in HDL, HOMA-IR, VLDL and LDL size did not persist after adjustment for WHR while differences in LDL particle number (P = 0.04) and HDL size (P = 0.01) persisted. LIMITATIONS, REASON fOR CAUTION: The sample size for the three groups was small but the findings werestill significant. The women were mostly obese so the ethnic differences in metabolic disorders may not apply to non-obese women with PCOS. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Of THE FINDINGS: Independent of BMI, obese, reproductive age, Hispanic women with PCOS in the USA had a greater degree of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Hispanic women with PCOS may benefit from more focused management of metabolic parameters. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This project was supported by the following National Institutes of Health grants: K23 DK080988-01A1 to S.S. and UL1RR029879 to CTSA at University of Illinois. None of the authors report any conflict of interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]