Coronary angiography in the elderly with acute myocardial infarction

Do elderly females have a higher risk of acute myocardial infarction? A retrospective analysis of 329 cases at an emergency department

OBJECTIVE

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a medical emergency; a missed or delayed diagnosis of this disease may contribute to a poor outcome and even death. Several studies have found elderly patients with AMI have atypical presentations for diagnosis, therefore we undertook this study to determine the risks among the elderly population, especially in female patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this one-year retrospective study, we reviewed the cases of AMI patients who had visited the emergency department at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, and who had either been discharged or had died following a diagnosis of AMI (ICD code 410). We compared the differences between the clinical presentations of these two groups as well as the risk factors, medical management, and outcomes.

RESULTS

In our study, only 329 patients (164 elderly; 165 adults) met the defined criteria. The most common symptom of AMI was chest pain, and this was more common in adult patients than in elderly patients (81.8% vs. 60.4%, p < 0.001). In comparison with patients in the adult group, the patients in the elderly group had a significantly higher proportion of females (46.3% vs. 12.7%), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (71.3% vs. 46.7%), presenting with no chest pain (39.6% vs. 18.2%), shortness of breath (17.7% vs. 8.8%), nausea/vomiting/dizziness (7.9% vs. 2.4%), abdominal pain (4.3% vs. 0.6%), diabetes mellitus (45.1% vs. 26.1%), cerebrovascular disease (22.6% vs. 6.1%), longer hospital stays (18.2 ± 31.0 days vs. 9.8 ± 8.2 days), and increased in-hospital mortality rates (15.9% vs. 6.7%).

CONCLUSION

Compared with the adult AMI group, the elderly AMI group had a higher proportion of females, electrocardiography with NSTEMI and no chest-pain complaints, and a larger proportion of elderly patients with diabetes, ischemic heart disease, heart attacks at home and cardiac shock, which had longer hospital stays, and higher mortality rates.

Disparities experienced by Aboriginal compared to non-Aboriginal metropolitan Western Australians in receiving coronary angiography following acute ischaemic heart disease: the impact of age and comorbidities

INTRODUCTION

Aboriginal Australians have a substantially higher frequency of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) events than their non-Aboriginal counterparts, together with a higher prevalence of comorbidities. The pattern of health service provision for IHD suggests inequitable delivery of important diagnostic procedures. Published data on disparities in IHD management among Aboriginal Australians are conflicting, and the role of comorbidities has not been adequately delineated. We compared the profiles of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients in the metropolitan area undergoing emergency IHD admissions at Western Australian metropolitan hospitals, and investigated the determinants of receiving coronary angiography.

METHODS

Person-linked administrative hospital and mortality records were used to identify 28-day survivors of IHD emergency admission events (n =20,816) commencing at metropolitan hospitals in 2005-09. The outcome measure was receipt of angiography. The Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal risk ratio (RR) was estimated from a multivariable Poisson log-linear regression model with allowance for multiple IHD events in individuals. The subgroup of myocardial infarction (MI) events was modelled separately.

RESULTS

Compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts, Aboriginal IHD patients were younger and more likely to have comorbidities. In the age- and sex-adjusted model, Aboriginal patients were less likely than others to receive angiography (RRIHD 0.77, 95% CI 0.72-0.83; RRMI 0.81, 95% CI 0.75-0.87) but in the full multivariable model this disparity was accounted for by comorbidities as well as IHD category and MI subtype, and private health insurance (RRIHD 0.95, 95% CI 0.89-1.01; RRMI 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-1.01). When stratified by age groups, this disparity was not significant in the 25-54 year age group (RRMI 0.95, 95% CI 0.88-1.02) but was significant in the 55-84 year age group (RRMI 0.88, 95% CI 0.77-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

The disproportionate under-management of older Aboriginal IHD patients is of particular concern. Regardless of age, the disparity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians in receiving angiography for acute IHD in a metropolitan setting is mediated substantially by comorbidities. This constellation of health problems is a 'double-whammy' for Aboriginal people, predisposing them to IHD and also adversely impacting on their receipt of angiography. Further research should investigate how older age and comorbidities influence clinical decision making in this context.

Clinical profile of acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients

CONTEXT

The aim of study was to determine the difference in presentation, risk factors, complications, management and outcome of elderly and young patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Tertiary care center; prospective observational study.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The study included 200 consecutive patients with AMI admitted in the ICCU, in a tertiary care center in West India. The group I consisted of 107 patients aged equal to or above 65 years and the group II consisted of 93 patients aged below 65 years.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Two tailed student's t test and Chi-square statistics (Fisher's test) for P value.

RESULTS

The male female ratio was 1.27:1 and 3.43:1 in group I and group II respectively. Atypical presentations were more likely in the elderly, with shortness of breath as the most common presentation (40.18% versus 15.05%; P < 0.05. Risk factors like hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes were equally present in both groups but obesity, smoking and family history of coronary artery disease was more prevalent in younger age group (P < 0.05). The elderly were significantly less frequently revascularized (P < 0.05). Time from symptom onset to hospital admission was significantly longer in the case of elderly patients (P < 0.05). The elderly were more likely to have complications of cardiac failure (P < 0.05) and arrhythmias especially atrio-ventricular (AV) blocks. The elderly were also less likely to receive beta-blockers (P < 0.05). In-hospital mortality was higher in the elderly (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the manifestations of AMI are more subtle in the elderly, with different risk factors.

The clinical manifestation of myocardial infarction in elderly patients

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

The study aimed to compare the clinical picture and treatment differences in elderly patients (aged 75 years or older) and younger patients (aged below 75 years).

METHODS

The study included 80 consecutive patients with myocardial infarction (MI) treated in the Cardiology Ward of the Specialist Hospital in Radom, Poland, in 2005. Analyses were performed retrospectively. The patients were separated into 2 groups according to age. The group I study group consisted of 40 patients aged 75 or over (aged 75-95; mean 81 years) and the group II control group consisted of 40 patients aged below 75 years (aged 42-67; mean 60 years).

RESULTS

In the elderly, as compared with younger subjects, dyspnea, fatigue, and other heart failure symptoms, were more frequently the first symptoms of MI than typical chest pain (p<0.05). ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was also more common (p<0.05). Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was more frequently diagnosed in the elderly (p<0.05). In elderly patients there were more women (p<0.05), more patients with previously diagnosed ischemic heart disease (p<0.05), with hypertension (p<0.05), and with diabetes mellitus (p<0.05). Obesity was less frequently diagnosed in the elderly; however the difference was not statistically significant. Dyslipidemia and cigarette smoking were both significantly less common among elderly patients (p<0.05). The elderly were significantly less frequently revascularized (p<0.05). Both fibrinolysis and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were less commonly applied to the elderly (p<0.05). Time from symptom onset to hospital admission was significantly longer in the case of elderly patients (p<0.05). The MI complications and side effects of treatment seemed to be more frequent in the elderly, but only post-MI heart failure was observed more frequently in this group of patients (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our observations confirm the differences in the clinical picture of MI in the elderly as described previously. All patients of advanced age should be considered as having the highest risk of death and complications occurrence.

Effect of trimetazidine on quality of life in elderly patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

INTRODUCTION

Elderly patients have an increased incidence of ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, often related to diffuse coronary artery disease. Data have been cumulated to suggest that trimetazidine improves myocardial ischemia in patients with ischemic heart disease and improves left ventricular function in elderly patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of trimetazidine in addition to standard cardiovascular therapy on left ventricular function and quality of life (QOL) parameters in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease and reduced left ventricular function.

METHODS

Patients were randomized to receive either trimetazidine (twice daily) or placebo (twice daily) in addition to standard therapy, and were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients completed the study (40 male, seven female; mean [+/-SD] age 78+/-3.4 years). Demographic data were comparable between the two groups with respect to sex, age, and race. At 6 months there was a significant improvement in the number of angina episodes per week in the trimetazidine group (-2.3+/-1, P=0.023). The overall assessment of QOL by a visual analog scale showed an improvement in patients randomized to trimetazidine at 6 months (from 4.1+/-0.6 to 6.4+/-0.8, P<0.01) and no changes in patients randomized to placebo (from 4.3+/-0.7 to 4.2+/-0.9, P>0.05). Physical QOL, evaluated by a MacNew Quality of Life After Myocardial Infarction questionnaire (MacNewQLMI), improved in patients randomized to trimetazidine but not in those allocated to placebo (32%+/-5% vs. -1%+/-3%, P<0.01). Similar results were obtained on social QOL evaluated by MacNewQLMI with trimetazidine compared with placebo (39%+/-4% vs. -2%+/-5%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

In elderly patients with ischemic heart disease and reduced ventricular function, trimetazidine improves clinical condition and QOL.