Background: The extent of angiographic lesions, size of infarct, and in-hospital and long-term prognosis in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) have not been clearly determined.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of MS on the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardio­vascular risk evaluated using the GRACE 2.0 risk score and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with coronary angioplasty.

Methods: The study was conducted in a group of 160 consecutive patients hospitalised for their first ACS. Coronary angiogra­phy was assessed and an echocardiographic evaluation of LVEF was performed. MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Cardiovascular risk was evaluated using the GRACE 2.0 score. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATISTICA software version 12.0.

Results: Diagnostic criteria for MS were met by 53.5% of the patients. Patients with and without MS did not differ in angio­graphic severity of CAD and cardiovascular risk as evaluated with the GRACE 2.0 score. LVEF was significantly elevated in patients with MS. In the examined group the angiographic severity of CAD correlated positively with age, body mass index (BMI) and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. The cardiovascular risk correlated positively with age, BMI, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA-IR, and inversely with blood pressure and triglyceride levels. The multivariable regression model for predicting the LVEF value indicated that the strongest prognostic factor was the type of ACS.

Conclusions: The associations between the angiographic severity of CAD and age, BMI, and insulin resistance (IR) confirm the involvement of these parameters in coronary atherosclerosis. The correlations between the estimated cardiovascular risk and IR indicate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters in patients after first ACS. The type of ACS is the strongest predictor of LVEF at discharge in this population.