The Predictive Value of Clinical Hirsutism for Biochemical Hyperandrogenism in a Large Endocrine Referral Cohort

In a study of 2,389 women aged 18-45, researchers found that the severity of clinical hirsutism, measured by the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) score, is a modest but independent predictor of biochemical hyperandrogenism, defined by elevated testosterone and/or DHEA-S levels. The study revealed that 13.0% of participants met the criteria for biochemical hyperandrogenism, with the FG score positively correlating with testosterone and DHEA-S levels. Age and BMI were inversely associated with biochemical hyperandrogenism. The findings underscore the complexity of diagnosing androgen excess and highlight the importance of using both clinical hirsutism scoring and biochemical markers for a comprehensive assessment. Despite some limitations, the study supports the clinical utility of the FG score in diverse referral populations.