Procedural and in-patient outcomes in patients aged 80 years or older undergoing contemporary primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

AIMS

Patients aged ≥80 years are often excluded or under-represented in trials assessing treatment modalities in STEMI. We assessed in-patient outcomes in elderly patients undergoing contemporary primary PCI (PPCI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

From Sept 2005 to July 2011 patients undergoing PPCI in our centre were identified. Demographic details, procedural data and in-patient outcomes were collated. Those aged ≥80 years were compared with those aged <80 years. In the study period 1,218 patients required PPCI, of which 224(18.4%) were ≥80 years. The elderly cohort were more likely to be female (44.3% vs. 20.3%; p<0.001), and have significant comorbidities. Times from first medical contact until TIMI 3 flow were similar between the two groups (medien 102 min vs. 109 min; p=0.19). There was no difference in rates of PCI success (97.3% vs. 98.3%; p=0.24), drug-eluting stent use (63.5% vs. 63.3%; p=1.00) and number of stents used. In-patient outcomes were worse in the elderly cohort with significantly higher rates of death (11.2% vs. 3.7%; p<0.001) and acute kidney injury (12.9% vs. 4.0%; p<0.001), with a trend towards more post-procedure cardiovascular accidents (CVA), access site complications and reinfarction. Length of stay was significantly longer in the elderly cohort (median days 5 vs. 3; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Important demographic differences exist in very elderly patients presenting with STEMI compared to younger patients though procedural data and PCI success rates are similar between the two groups. Those aged ≥80 years have significantly worse in-patient outcomes though death rates are not as high as historical data suggests.