Abstract:Objective To analyze the relationship between free androgen index (FAI) and sex hormones/glycolipid metabolism in obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with insulin resistance (IR).Methods Medical records of 145 PCOS patients with IR (March 2021-January 2024) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into non-obese group (BMI < 28 kg/m2, n = 78) and obese group (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, n = 67). General data, FAI, sex hormones [testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin], and glycolipid metabolism indicators [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] were compared. Correlation between FAI and these parameters was analyzed.Results The obese group showed lower E? and FSH levels but higher LH, FAI, and T levels versus non-obese group (P < 0.05). HbA1c and FPG levels were higher in obese group (P < 0.05). TC, LDL-C, and TG levels were higher while HDL-C was lower in obese group (P < 0.05). FAI positively correlated with T (r = 0.573), LH (r = 0.475), HbA1c (r = 0.625), FPG (r = 0.579), TC (r = 0.482), LDL-C (r = 0.498), and TG (r = 0.429) in obese PCOS/IR patients (all P < 0.05). FAI negatively correlated with FSH (r = -0.584), E2 (r = -0.617), and HDL-C (r = -0.581) (all P < 0.05).Conclusion Elevated FAI levels in obese PCOS/IR patients exhibit significant correlations with sex hormone profiles and glycolipid metabolism parameters.