Association between metabolic syndrome and late saphenous vein graft disease

Objectives: Saphenous vein grafts have been widely used in coronary bypass operations for many years. We investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and late saphenous graft disease. Study design: The study included 193 patients (16 females, 177 males; mean age 62 +/- 8 years; range 39 to 86 years) in whom at least one saphenous vein graft had been used during coronary bypass operation of at least 10-year history. All the patients underwent coronary angiography for anginal complaints or preoperative assessment. Patients were classified into two groups. Group 1 was comprised of 72 patients with patent saphenous graft, whereas group 2 included 121 patients without patency or with associated lesions. The two groups were compared in terms of their medications, anthropometric measurements, blood biochemistry, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and MS. Results: Metabolic syndrome was less frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (22% vs. 45.6%, p=0.003). Metabolic syndrome score, derived from the sum of MS components, was higher in group 2 than in group 1 (2.3 +/- 1 vs. 1.8 +/- 1.2, p=0.003). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, duration from bypass to coronary angiography (beta=0.812, p=0.017) and MS score (beta=0.590, p=0.005) were found to be independent factors related to saphenous graft patency. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome score seems to be associated with late saphenous vein graft disease. Early measures for MS may affect the prognosis of patients undergoing coronary bypass operations.