An assessment of risk factors for the complexity of coronary artery disease using the SYNTAX score

In 2005, the SYNTAX score was reported as “an angiographic tool grading the complexity of coronary artery disease”. We investigated risk factors for the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) using SYNTAX scores in patients with new-onset CAD. The subjects were 359 consecutive cases that underwent de novo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery without previous PCI history. Acute myocardial infarction was excluded. The SYNTAX scores were obtained from coronary angiographies performed before PCI. On multivariate linear regression analysis of risk factors for the SYNTAX scores, aging, being a male and having diabetes mellitus were identified as significant independent risk factors (age: multiple regression coefficient 0.27, p = 0.001; male: 4.91, p = 0.004; diabetes: 4.53, p = 0.001). Other coronary risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and reduced renal function were not identified as significant independent risk factors. In patients undergoing PCI, aging, being a male and having diabetes mellitus are considered to be independent risk factors for the complexity of CAD. Therefore, when patients with CAD have these factors, we expect the CAD of the patient to be more complex and that it will be necessary to provide more careful medical care.