Risk factors for three-vessel coronary artery disease in patients of Northwest Mexico

Three-vessel coronary artery disease is an advanced manifestation of atherosclerosis, with high prevalence in Mexico.

The aim of this study was to describe coronary risk factors in a group of patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease in Northwest Mexico.

A cross sectional study was conducted on a population with three-vessel coronary artery disease from May 2015 to February 2016. The disease was defined when ≥70% stenosis was present in each major epicardial coronary artery. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in each patient. Ankle-Brachial Index was measured with vascular ultrasound, and Syntax score calculation with an on-line application. Statistical analysis for qualitative differences was performed using Pearson X² test, with p<0.05 being considered as significant.

The study included 100 patients, of whom 75 were male (mean age 63±9 years) and 25 female (mean age 69±9 years). The coronary risk factors observed were diabetes (58%), hypertension (86%), smoking (68%), dyslipidaemia (100%), metabolic syndrome (71%), and obesity/overweight (75%). Diabetes and metabolic syndrome prevalence was higher in women (p=0.03), but smoking was higher in men (76%, p=0.003). Ankle-Brachial Index was abnormal in 58% of patients, the mean Syntax score was in 36.9±11.5, and the prevalence of left main coronary heart disease was 36%.

This group of patients with complex coronary lesions has a high prevalence of coronary risk factors, which could represent a worse prognosis.