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Canberra (ANTARA News / Xinhua-Oana) - Australian research has identified a cause of heart disease in women not previously known, "a hormonal disorder polycystic ovary syndrome" (PCOS), according to Australian Associated Press on Tuesday.

"The level of blood clotting and blood vessel disorders seen in women with PCOS in this study is striking," said Alicia Chan, a cardiologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a doctoral student at the Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide.

"... Similar to what we usually see in older patients and are known to have heart disease. It is important we understand the relationship PCOS with heart disease, because almost half of all heart disease sufferers in Australia are women," she said.

PCOS seen in women with different body shapes, so dismissed the myth that the disease attacked only women who are overweight. Cardiac disorders associated with PCOS and found recently occurred indiscriminately.

"This disease affects women in different shapes and sizes, including women's skinny," said Chan.

"This is the first study to indicate that PCOS is closely associated with an increased risk of heart disease and not associated with weight gain or diabetes," he explained.

Larger studies will be undertaken to strengthen the findings.

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorders in women, affecting 10 percent of women at childbearing age, and the leading cause of infertility.

Adelaide is the capital of the state of South Australia, a dense population.