Prevalance of the Metabolic Syndrome and Its Effect on Inhospital Outcomes in Patients With Unstable Angina Pectoris

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a public health problem which is becoming increasingly common worldwide. According to TEKHARF study database, MS was responsible for 53% of patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD) indicating its role es an important public health insure in Turkish adults. We studied prevalance, component distribution of the MS and its relationship with CHD and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with unstable angina pectoris. Study population consisted of 100 hospitalized patients with unstable angina pectoris (M 77, F 23; mean age 60.33±9.48 yrs). These patients had not received lipid-lowering therapy before hospitalization. Components of the MS were screened and apoA, apoB and hsCRP levels were measured in all patients. Body mass index was calculated and all patients underwent coronary angiography. The number of coronary arteries with critical stenosis was determined. MS existed in 57% of patients. MS prevalance was 53% in men and 69% in women. Among components of the MS, most frequent three components were low HDL-cholesterol levels (81%), hypertriglyceridemia (63%) and hypertension (53%) in men and abdominal obesity (waist circumference >88 cm) (91%), low HDL-cholesterol levels (82%) and hypertension (65%) in women respectively. Between MS and non-MS groups; one, two, three vessels disease and hsCRP levels were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The geometric mean values of hsCRP increased in relation to the number of diseased coronary arteries. In conclusion, MS existed in a very high prevalence amory patients with unstable angina pectoris. The component distribution of the MS varied somew hat between male and females. Increased levels of hsCRP were measured in patients with unstable angina pectoris, but MS does not contribute to this augmentation. (Türk Kardiyol Dern Arş 2004; 32: 356-363)