Drug Treatment of STEMI in the Elderly: Focus on Fibrinolytic Therapy and Insights from the STREAM Trial

Cardiovascular risk factors, clinical manifestations and management of myocardial infarction in elderly and long­living patients depending on geriatric status

Aim. To study cardiovascular risk factors, clinical manifestations and management of myocardial infarction (MI) in elderly and long­living patients depending on geriatric status.

Material and methods. Out of 92 patients with MI (mean age, 81,6±4,2), 3 following groups were formed: "frailty" — 35 (38,0%), "prefrailty" — 16 (17,4%), and "no frailty" — 41 (44,6%). The following questionnaires were used: Age Is Not a Hindrance, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, balance test, Gait Speed Test, Timed Up and Go test, grip test, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test, Geriatric Depression Scale.

Results. Frailty probability in patients is higher in the presence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 ml/min/1,73 m2, a stroke, and heart failure. In the event of clinical manifestations of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), patients without frailty sought medical assistance earlier (in the first 2 hours — 26,8% of patients (χ2=7,8, p=0,005). Most patients with prefrailty and frailty called an ambulance later, but in the first 12 hours — 68,8 and 74,3%, respectively (χ2=15,6, p=0,012). The prevalence of thrombolysis is 23,2%, percutaneous coronary intervention — 30,4% and did not depend on geriatric status. The probability of multivessel disease is higher in patients with or at risk of malnutrition. The main hemodynamic parameters, echocardiography, laboratory parameters in patients with MI did not depend on geriatric status. According to the STOPP/START criteria, frail patients with more often received nonrecommended inhospital medicines.

Conclusion. Frailty in patients with MI was associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, later medical assistance, and more frequent non-recommended treatment.

The Impact of Advanced Age on Major Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing a Pharmaco-Invasive Strategy

BACKGROUND

There is little research in the efficacy and safety of a pharmaco-invasive strategy (PIS) in patients ≥75 years versus <75 years of age. We aimed to evaluate and compare the influence of advanced age on the risk of death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients undergoing PIS.

METHODS

Between January 2010 and November 2016, 14 municipal emergency rooms in São Paulo, Brazil, used full-dose tenecteplase to treat patients with STEMI as part of a pharmaco-invasive strategy for a local network implementation.

RESULTS

A total of 1852 patients undergoing PIS were evaluated, of which 160 (9%) were ≥75 years of age. Compared to patients <75 years, those ≥75 years were more often female, had lower body mass index, higher rates of hypertension; higher incidence of hypothyroidism, chronic renal failure, prior stroke, and diabetes. Compared to patients <75 years of age, in-hospital MACE and mortality were higher in patients with ≥75 years (6.5% versus 19.4%; p<0.001; and 4.0% versus 18.2%; p<0.001, respectively). Patients ≥75 years had higher rates of in-hospital major bleeding (2.7% versus 5.6%; p=0.04) and higher incidence of cardiogenic shock (7.0% versus 19.6%; p<0.001). By multivariable analysis, age ≥75 years was independent predictor of MACE (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.72 to 7.42, p=0.001) and death (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.12-3.82, p=0.020).

CONCLUSION

In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing PIS, age ≥75 years was an independent factor that entailed a 3.5-fold higher MACE and 2-fold higher mortality rate compared to patients <75 years of age.

Current Perspectives in Facilitated Angioplasty

BACKGROUND

Ischemic heart disease represents the most important cause of mortality worldwide, and the management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) still remains a great challenge. For a great number of patients who do not have immediate access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), facilitated angioplasty may be a reasonable therapeutic option.

AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY

The goal of reperfusion therapy is achieving repermeabilization of the infarct-related artery. However, the restoration of normal epicardial flow is not always followed by microvascular tissue perfusion and the presence of myocardial blush. Early studies assessing the benefits of facilitated angioplasty over primary PCI encountered disappointing results, with an increased number of bleeding complications. The invasive strategy following fibrinolysis mainly consists in angiography and PCI of the infarct-related artery between 2 and 24 hours after successful fibrinolysis or rescue PCI in failed fibrinolysis, hemodynamic, electrical instability, or worsening ischemia. Currently, a strategy of routine early angiography after fibrinolysis is recommended, taking into account studies that have demonstrated a reduced rate of reinfarction and recurrent ischemia, without an increased risk of stroke or major bleeding complications.

THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES

After evaluating 1892 patients with STEMI within 3 hours after the onset of symptoms and revealing, beyond clear benefit of fibrinolysis, an increased risk of bleeding complications, the STREAM trial was the one that led to halving the tenecteplase dose for patients aged >75 years. A safety profile of adjusted-dose fibrinolytic therapy in elderly patients with STEMI will be further investigated by the ongoing STREAM-2 trial.

CONCLUSIONS

With the current increased burden of acute coronary syndromes and the lack of immediate primary PCI facilities for all patients with STEMI, facilitated angioplasty seems a feasible therapeutic option. Another benefit of facilitated angioplasty may be represented by a major contribution of thrombolytic therapy in re-establishing microvascular myocardial blood flow.

Current and novel approaches to treat patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction

INTRODUCTION

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represents the gold-standard treatment for patients presenting with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Acute myocardial infarction is a complex clinical scenario, and an appropriate therapeutic approach could be represented by a balanced integration between healthcare system and medical competence.

AREAS COVERED

In this review we discuss how a primary PCI network, and the new therapeutic options could be coupled in order to obtain improved clinical outcomes. The present report will focus on three main issues related to STEMI patients, namely, out of hospital management, primary PCI and pharmacological treatment. Expert commentary: A possible correct approach to a patient presenting a STEMI could be considered as a stepwise process, given by 5 steps: reducing the time to reperfusion; dual antiplatelet administration; radial access; new generation drug eluting stent implantation; long term management.