TITLE:
Clinical, Psycho-Social and Metabolic Profile of Women with Hirsutism in Yaounde
AUTHORS:
Francine Mendane Ekobena, Martine Claude Etoa Etoga, Laurence Carole Ngo Yon, Mesmin Dehayem, Sandrine Ongnesseck Nengom, Eliane Ngassam, Vanessa Balla, Eugène Sobngwi, Jean Claude Mbanya
KEYWORDS:
Hirsutism, hyperandrogenism, Yaoundé, Ferriman and Gallwey
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
10,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Hirsutism is a clinical situation in Cameroon which is poorly elucidated
due to a paucity of clinical and biological data; hence our interest in this
study. The aim of this work was to describe the clinical, psycho-social and
metabolic profile of women with hirsutism in Yaoundé. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from May 2013 to
December 2013. Participants were recruited by announcement through social
media. Our study included women at least 18 years old, not in menopausal, not pregnant, not breastfeeding, with hirsutism regardless of severity. They were
assessed through an interrogation, anthropometric parameters, a physical
examination using the modified Ferriman and Gallwey score, the measurement
of fasting capillary blood glucose and a lipid profile. The psycho-social
assessment was carried out using a pre-designed questionnaire on the
participant’s perception and daily experience with hirsutism. The metabolic
syndrome was established according to the criteria of the International
Diabetes Federation of 2005 and the National Cholesterol Education
Program-third adult treatment panel of 2001. Results: We recruited 60
women aged 27.6 ± 7.0 years. The median Ferriman and Gallwey score was 12. The
mean duration of evolution was 9 years. A family history of hirsutism was found
in 88.8% of the participants, especially in the mother.
Signs of virilization were found in 3.3% of the participants. Association was
found between menstrual cycle abnormalities and severity of hirsutism (p = 0.023).
Psycho-socially, 58.8% of women found
hirsutism normal. The metabolic syndrome was found in 21.7% and 18.3% according to the IDF and NCEP-ATP III, respectively. Conclusion: Hirsutism in our context seems normal
to most of our participants. It is, however, associated with menstrual
irregularities, signs of virilization and metabolic syndrome. As a result, hirsutism merits further study on a
large-scale with emphasis on etiology.