Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis after acute cardiac conditions

The metabolic syndrome (MS), a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors known to be associated with type II diabetes and arterial disease, has been recently reported to be associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this case-control study MS was tested as a potential risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and acute heart failure (AHF). Globally, 86 patients with objectively diagnosed DVT during cardiac rehabilitation after ACS and AHF were compared with a sex and age-matched population of cardiac patients without objectively confirmed DVT. MS was significantly associated to the presence of DVT (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.64, 3.12), independent from type of cardiac event, prolonged hospitalization, and obesity. Among single determinants of MS, only hypertriglyceridemia was significantly associated with VTE. The presence of MS could increase the risk of VTE after acute cardiac events, thus affecting morbidity and mortality in this patient population.