Background: The metabolic syndrome is more prevalent with the use of the recently defined National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria and is associated with a greater risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease than any of its individual components. This study evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in female and male patients with newly diagnosed premature coronary artery disease.
Method: The study population included 582 consecutive patients (496 men, 86 women) with newly diagnosed premature coronary artery disease (aged < or =45 years). Besides classic major coronary risk factors, all patients were evaluated for the presence of metabolic syndrome based on the NCEP ATP III criteria.
Results: The majority of patients were male (85% versus 15%). The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 37%. Women with premature coronary artery disease were found to have a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than men (73% versus 31% respectively, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean number of components of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in women compared to men (2.81 +/- 1.09 versus 1.85 +/- 1.08 respectively, p < 0.001). In addition, metabolic syndrome was detected to be the most frequent coronary risk factor in women (73%). Besides, cigarette smoking was found to be significantly higher in males compared to females (70% versus 36% respectively, p < 0.001) and it was the most prevalent coronary risk factor in men with premature coronary artery disease.
Conclusion: We have shown for the first time a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in young females compared with young males with premature coronary artery disease. This data may be useful in directing primary and secondary preventive measures.