The Effect of Smoking on the Clinical and Biochemical Profile of Greek Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study investigated the impact of smoking on biochemical and clinical parameters, as well as ovarian morphology, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It was a retrospective study involving 309 women, divided into nonsmokers (217) and smokers (92). Smoking was quantified in pack-years, with smokers averaging 14.8 cigarettes per day and a median of 4.0 pack-years. Smokers exhibited significantly higher levels of free testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, delta-4 androstenedione, triiodothyronine, low-density lipoprotein, and white blood cells. However, there was no statistically significant difference in insulin resistance and clinical profile between the groups.