Background: We evaluated the effect of metabolic syndrome on morbidity and mortality in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: This prospective study included 150 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, of which 73 patients had metabolic syndrome according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Patients with and without metabolic syndrome were compared with respect to demographic variables, morbidity and mortality in the early postoperative period.

Results: Patients with metabolic syndrome exhibited higher values of the following variables: body weight, waist circumference, arterial blood pressure, fasting glucose level, triglyceride level, high and low density lipoprotein levels, total cholesterol level, body mass index, involvement of the right and circumflex coronary arteries, female gender, and family history. Total perfusion and crossclamp times were longer in this group. The presence of metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with increased total postoperative drainage, need for fresh frozen plasma, ventilation time, need for insulin infusion, postoperative myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and other infections, the length of intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, and early mortality.

Conclusion: Patients with metabolic syndrome have increased risk for early postoperative morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting operations.

Keywords : Coronary artery bypass; metabolic syndrome X/ complications; morbidity; risk factors