Influence of metabolic syndrome on coronary arteries features in people with myocardial infarction

Introduction: Previous epidemiological and clinical studies confirmed the relation between metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). There was a significant correlation between the syndrome and more severe angiographic lesions in the coronary arteries of these patients. Objective: We aimed at investigating the importance and influence of the metabolic syndrome on the severity of the angiographic lesions in the coronary arteries of the patients with myocardial infarction. Method: The research included 143 participants with a myocardial infarction, of whom 81 (58.7±6.2) had metabolic syndrome and 62 (54.9±10.3) were without it (p<0.01). Physical examinations, anthropometric measurements, lab results, and coronarography were performed in all patients. To diagnose the metabolic syndrome (MS) we used the American Heart Association`s and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute`s criteria. Results: Participants with MS, when compared to those without MS, had: single-vessel CAD 8,6% vs 46,8% (p<0,001), double-vessel CAD 25,9% vs 32,3% (p>0,05), triple-vessel CAD 65,4% vs 21,0% (p<0,001), multi-vessel CAD 91,3% vs 53,2% (p<0,001). When we compared the affected coronary arteries of the patients with MS and those without MS we found: LAD 88,9% vs 71,0% (p<0,01), LCx 64,2% vs 29,0% (p<0,01), RCA 80,2% vs 61,3% (p<0,01), LM 14,8% vs 1,6%. Conclusion: Patients with MS had more severe coronary artery lesions, with a higher incidence of triple-vessel and multi-vessel disease, as well as stenosis of LAD, LCX. RCA, LM, when compared to those without MS. This clearly indicates MS is a significant risk factor for more severe CAD.