Mortality and morbidity reduction by primary percutaneous coronary intervention is independent of the patient's age

Percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions in elderly people

BACKGROUND

In the elderly people with unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions (ULMD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is often selected as first choice treatment strategy because of perioperative high risk of coronary artery bypass graft surgery due to their large number of comorbidities. Also, some recent papers reported that geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is also strongly associated with clinical outcomes after interventional procedures in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed clinical outcomes after PCI for ULMD and the impact of GNRI in elderly patients.

METHODS

We identified 669 non dialysis patients treated with current generation drug-eluting stent for ULMD from MITO registry. We divided the patients to the following 2 groups; elderly group (n = 240, age ≥75) and young group (n = 429, age <75). Additionally, we could calculate GNRI and divided elderly group into 2 group based on the median value of the GNRI. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

All-cause mortality was significantly higher in elderly group [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.40-4.02; p = 0.001]. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in low GNRI elderly group compared to other 2 groups (Adjusted HR of elderly with low GNRI: 3.56, 95%CI (1.77-7.14), p < 0.001). Cardiovascular mortality was comparable between two groups. TLR rate was significantly lower in elderly group (adjusted HR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34-0.97; p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

The elderly had higher all-cause mortality after PCI for ULMD compared to young people. Especially, the elderly with low GNRI were extremely associated with poorer outcomes.

Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Older People: Comprehensive Review and Multidisciplinary Practice-Based Recommendations

Managing health care for older adults aged 75 years and older can pose unique challenges stemming from age-related physiological differences and comorbidities, along with elevated risk of delirium, frailty, disability, and polypharmacy. This review is aimed at providing a comprehensive analysis of the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in older patients, a demographic substantially underrepresented in major clinical trials. Because older patients often exhibit atypical ACS symptoms, a nuanced diagnostic and risk stratification approach is necessary. We aim to address diagnostic challenges for older populations and highlight the diminished sensitivity of traditional symptoms with age, and the importance of biomarkers and imaging techniques tailored for older patients. Additionally, we review the efficacy and safety of pharmacological agents for ACS management in older people, emphasizing the need for a personalized and shared decision-making approach to treatment. This review also explores revascularization strategies, considering the implications of invasive procedures in older people, and weighing the potential benefits against the heightened procedural risks, particularly with surgical revascularization techniques. We explore the perioperative management of older patients experiencing myocardial infarction in the setting of noncardiac surgeries, including preoperative risk stratification and postoperative care considerations. Furthermore, we highlight the critical role of a multidisciplinary approach involving cardiologists, geriatricians, general and internal medicine physicians, primary care physicians, and allied health, to ensure a holistic care pathway in this patient cohort.

Early Invasive Strategy for Octogenarians and Nonagenarians With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Older adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are currently a rapidly growing population. However, their clinical presentation and outcomes remain unresolved. Methods and Results: A total of 268 consecutive AMI patients were analyzed for clinical characteristics and outcomes with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality within 1 year. Patients aged ≥80 years (Over-80; n=100) were compared with those aged ≤79 years (Under-79; n=168). (1) Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was frequently and similarly performed in both the Over-80 group and the Under-79 group (86% vs. 89%; P=0.52). (2) Killip class III-IV (P<0.01), in-hospital mortality (P<0.01), MACE (P=0.03) and all-cause mortality (P<0.01) were more prevalent in the Over-80 group than in the Under-79 group. (3) In the Over-80 group, frail patients showed a significantly worse clinical outcome compared with non-frail patients. (4) Multivariate analysis revealed Killip class III-IV was associated with MACE (odds ratio [OR]=3.51; P=0.02) and all-cause mortality (OR=9.49; P<0.01) in the Over-80 group. PCI was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (OR=0.13; P=0.02) in the Over-80 group. Conclusions: The rate of primary PCI did not decline with age. Although octogenarians/nonagenarians showed more severe clinical presentation and worse short-term outcomes compared with younger patients, particularly in those with frailty, the prognosis may be improved by early invasive strategy even in these very old patients.

Coronary artery disease management in older adults: revascularization and exercise training

The mean age of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is steadily increasing. In older patients, there is a tendency to underutilize invasive approach, coronary revascularization, up-to-date pharmacological therapies, and secondary prevention strategies, including cardiac rehabilitation. Older adults with CAD commonly exhibit atypical symptoms, multi-vessel disease involvement, complex coronary anatomy, and a higher presence of risk factors and comorbidities. Although both invasive procedures and medical treatments are characterized by a higher risk of complications, avoidance may result in a suboptimal outcome. Often, overlooked factors, such as coronary microvascular disease, malnutrition, and poor physical performance, play a key role in determining prognosis, yet they are not routinely assessed or addressed in older patients. Historically, clinicians have relied on sub-analyses or observational findings to make clinical decisions, as older adults were frequently excluded or under-represented in clinical studies. Recently, dedicated evidence through randomized clinical trials has become available for older CAD patients. Nevertheless, the management of older CAD patients still raises several important questions. This review aims to comprehensively summarize and critically evaluate this emerging evidence, focusing on invasive management and coronary revascularization. Furthermore, it seeks to contextualize these interventions within the framework of improved risk stratification tools for older CAD patients, through user-friendly scales along with emphasizing the importance of promoting physical activity and exercise training to enhance the outcomes of invasive and medical treatments. This comprehensive approach may represent the key to improving prognosis in the complex and growing patient population of older CAD patients.

1-Year Mortality Prediction through Artificial Intelligence Using Hemodynamic Trace Analysis among Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background and Objectives: Patients presenting with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) due to occlusive coronary arteries remain at a higher risk of excess morbidity and mortality despite being treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Identifying high-risk patients is prudent so that close monitoring and timely interventions can improve outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 605 STEMI patients [64.2 ± 13.2 years, 432 (71.41%) males] treated with PPCI were recruited. Their arterial pressure (AP) wave recorded throughout the PPCI procedure was analyzed to extract features to predict 1-year mortality. After denoising and extracting features, we developed two distinct feature selection strategies. The first strategy uses linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and the second employs principal component analysis (PCA), with each method selecting the top five features. Then, three machine learning algorithms were employed: LDA, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). Results: The performance of these algorithms, measured by the area under the curve (AUC), ranged from 0.73 to 0.77, with accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity ranging between 68% and 73%. Moreover, we extended the analysis by incorporating demographics, risk factors, and catheterization information. This significantly improved the overall accuracy and specificity to more than 76% while maintaining the same level of sensitivity. This resulted in an AUC greater than 0.80 for most models. Conclusions: Machine learning algorithms analyzing hemodynamic traces in STEMI patients identify high-risk patients at risk of mortality.

Impact of Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury on One-Year Outcomes in Very Elderly STEMI Patients: Insights From a Multicenter Registry in Northern Italy

Data about contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in oldest old (age ≥85 years) ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are scarce. We evaluated the incidence and the 1-year prognostic impact of CA-AKI in this population. Patients were included in a multicenter real-world registry, and CA-AKI was defined according to KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) criteria. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were defined as the composite of all-cause death, stroke, unplanned coronary revascularization, and heart failure hospitalization. The primary outcome was the incidence and impact of CA-AKI on MACCEs at 1 year follow-up. Out of 461 STEMI patients (mean age 88.6 ± 2.9 years), 102 (22.1%) patients developed CA-AKI. Chronic kidney disease was the strongest predictor of CA-AKI (odds ratio [OR]: 4.52, 95% CI: 2.81-7.30, P < .01). The CA-AKI cohort showed a higher risk of MACCEs (adjusted HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.71, P = .01), driven mainly by all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.41-4.07, P = .01) and followed by heart failure hospitalization (adjusted HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.08-3.76, P = .01). Among oldest old STEMI, CA-AKI was frequent and associated with a higher incidence of MACCEs at 1-year follow-up.

Comparison of care and outcomes for myocardial infarction by heart failure status between United Kingdom and Japan

AIMS

Prognosis for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is worse when heart failure is present on admission. Understanding clinical practice in different health systems can identify areas for quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes. In the absence of international comparison studies, we aimed to compare treatments and in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by heart failure status in two healthcare-wide cohorts.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used two nationwide databases to capture admissions with STEMI in the United Kingdom (Myocardial ischemia National Audit Project, MINAP) and Japan (Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnostic Procedure Combination, JROAD-DPC) between 2012 and 2017. Participants were stratified using the HF Killip classification into three groups; Killip 1: no congestive heart failure, Killip 2-3: congestive heart failure, Killip 4: cardiogenic shock. We calculated crude rate and case mix standardized risk ratios (CSRR) for use of treatments and in-hospital death. Patients were younger in the United Kingdom (65.4 [13.6] vs. 69.1 [13.0] years) and more likely to have co-morbidities in the United Kingdom except for diabetes and hypertension. Japan had a higher percentage of heart failure and cardiogenic shock patients among STEMI during admission than that in the United Kingdom. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) rates were lower in the United Kingdom compared with Japan, especially for patients presenting with Killip 2-3 class heart failure (pPCI use in patients with Killip 1, 2-3, 4: Japan, 86.2%, 81.7%, 78.7%; United Kingdom, 79.6%, 58.2% and 79.9%). In contrast, beta-blocker use was consistently lower in Japan than in the United Kingdom (61.4% vs. 90.2%) across Killip classifications and length of hospital stay longer (17.0 [9.7] vs. 5.0 [7.4] days). The crude rate of in-hospital mortality increased with increasing Killip class group. Both the crude rate and CSRR was higher in the United Kingdom compared with Japan for Killip 2-3 (15.8% vs. 6.4%, CSRR 1.80 95% CI 1.73-1.87, P < 0.001), and similar for Killip 4 (36.9% vs. 36.3%, CSRR 1.11 95% CI 1.08-1.13, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Important differences in the care and outcomes for STEMI with heart failure exist between the United Kingdom and Japan. Specifically, in the United Kingdom, there was a lower rate of pPCI, and in Japan, fewer patients were prescribed beta blockers and hospital length of stay was longer. This international comparison can inform targeted quality improvement programmes to narrow the outcome gap between health systems.

Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Older Adult Population: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Diagnostic and therapeutic advances during the past decades have substantially improved health outcomes for patients with acute coronary syndrome. Both age-related physiological changes and accumulated cardiovascular risk factors increase the susceptibility to acute coronary syndrome over a lifetime. Compared with younger patients, outcomes for acute coronary syndrome in the large and growing demographic of older adults are relatively worse. Increased atherosclerotic plaque burden and complexity of anatomic disease, compounded by age-related cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbid conditions, contribute to the worse prognosis observed in older individuals. Geriatric syndromes, including frailty, multimorbidity, impaired cognitive and physical function, polypharmacy, and other complexities of care, can undermine the therapeutic efficacy of guidelines-based treatments and the resiliency of older adults to survive and recover, as well. In this American Heart Association scientific statement, we (1) review age-related physiological changes that predispose to acute coronary syndrome and management complexity; (2) describe the influence of commonly encountered geriatric syndromes on cardiovascular disease outcomes; and (3) recommend age-appropriate and guideline-concordant revascularization and acute coronary syndrome management strategies, including transitions of care, the use of cardiac rehabilitation, palliative care services, and holistic approaches. The primacy of individualized risk assessment and patient-centered care decision-making is highlighted throughout.

Final benefit of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in older patients: long-term results of a randomised trial

Background

Although the short-term benefit of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been demonstrated, the final long-term survival benefit is as yet unknown.

Aim

To assess the final survival benefit of primary PCI as compared to thrombolytic therapy in patients over 75 years of age.

Methods

Patients > 75 years with STEMI were randomised to either primary PCI or thrombolysis. Long-term data on survival were available for all patients.

Results

A total of 46 patients were randomised to primary PCI, 41 to thrombolysis. There were no significant differences in baseline variables. After a maximum of 20 years’ follow-up, all patients had passed away. The patients randomised to thrombolysis died after a mean follow-up duration of 5.2 years (SD 4.9) compared to 6.7 years (SD 4.8) in patients randomised to primary PCI (p = 0.15). Thus, the mean final survival benefit of primary PCI was 1.5 years.

Conclusion

The final survival benefit of primary PCI as compared to thrombolysis in elderly patients with STEMI is 1.5 years and their life expectancy increases by 28.8%.

Is the contemporary care of the older persons with acute coronary syndrome evidence-based?

Globally, ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death, with a higher mortality burden amongst older adults. Although advancing age is associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes following acute coronary syndrome (ACS), older patients are less likely to receive evidence-based medications and coronary angiography. Guideline recommendations for managing ACS are often based on studies that exclude older patients, and more contemporary trials have been underpowered and produced inconsistent findings. There is also limited evidence for how frailty and comorbidity should influence management decisions. This review focuses on the current evidence base for the medical and percutaneous management of ACS in older patients and highlights the distinct need to enrol older patients with ACS into well-powered, large-scale randomized trials.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients aged 85 years or older: a retrospective analysis of outcomes

BACKGROUND

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the first-line treatment for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Evidence of benefit from PPCI in the elderly is sparse. Our aim was to evaluate survival outcomes in patients aged ≥85 years who undergo PPCI for STEMI.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected retrospectively on all patients aged ≥85 years who were referred and accepted for PPCI to our centre between 2013 and 2018.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-three patients received PPCI. Median hospital stay was seven days. One hundred and thirty-one patients survived admission. One-year mortality was 33.5%. Age and baseline renal function were independent predictors of one-year mortality. Median survival was 2.55 years.

CONCLUSION

Advanced age alone should not be used as an exclusion criterion for PPCI; rather, a personalised approach that takes into account all clinically relevant patient factors should guide PCI decision-making. Our findings suggest that PPCI as first-line treatment for STEMI in the very old should be considered routinely.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians: A risk scoring system to predict 30-day outcomes in the elderly

OBJECTIVE

Octogenarians are a high-risk group presenting for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to create a 30-day mortality risk model for octogenarians presenting with both acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic stable angina (CSA), using comprehensive mandatory UK data submissions to the UK National database.

BACKGROUND

Octogenarians are a high-risk group presenting for percutaneous coronary intervention, and decisions on whether or not to undertake intervention in this cohort can be challenging. The increasing number of octogenarians in the general population means they represent an important high-risk subgroup of patients.

METHODS

The data group consisted of 425,897 PCI procedures undertaken in the UK between 2008 and 2012 during which time there was comprehensive data linkage to mortality via the Office of National Statistics. Of these procedures, 44,221 (10.4%) were in patients aged ≥80. These comprised the model group. Logistic regression was used to create a predictive score which ultimately consisted of the following weightings: age 80-89 (n = 1); age > 90 (n = 2); unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) (n = 1); STEMI (n = 2); creatinine >200 mmol/L (n = 1); preprocedural ventilation (n = 1); left ventricular ejection fraction <30% (n = 1); cardiogenic shock (n = 2). Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data.

RESULTS

The patient cohort was divided into a derivation (n = 22,072) and a validation dataset (n = 22,071). Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to derive the area-under-the-curve to assess properties of the score. The scoring system generated an AUC 0.83, (95% CI 0.80-0.85) suggesting high sensitivity and specificity. Scores of 1-4 were associated with good survival but scores ≥5 were associated with an estimated likelihood of death within 30 days of ≥40%.

CONCLUSIONS

This octogenarian risk score maybe a useful tool to determine the chance of a successful outcome in elderly patients presenting for PCI.

Improved short and long term survival associated with percutaneous coronary intervention in the elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are increasingly used in daily clinical practice in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) despite limited evidence. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of PCI on short and long term survivals in a large cohort of elderly patients with ACS from a "real world".

METHODS

We enrolled 491 patients aged ≥70 years admitted to our institution with ACS from 2006 to 2012. Effect of PCI on short and long term survival was evaluated in both overall and a propensity score-matched cohort.

RESULTS

The mean age of the overall cohort is 83 ± 6 years. Among them, 285 were treated with PCI, whereas 206 were not. Patients treated with PCI were younger (82 ± 5 vs. 85 ± 6), more males (67% vs. 46%), with lower heart rate (77 ± 22 vs. 84 ± 21), higher eGFR (58 ± 20 vs. 47 ± 23), and less with heart failure (29% vs. 15%) (all p < 0.001). In both overall and propensity-matched population, improved survival was associated with PCI-treatment at 1 and 3 years (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Furthermore, by using multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model following factors were identified as independent predictors of 3-year all-cause mortality: age (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.16), heart rate (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), eGFR (HR 3.07, 95% CI 1.63-5.77), malignancy (HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.27-4.57), prior CABG (HR 2.033, 95% CI 1.27-4.57), medication with statin (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.86) in PCI group, whereas age (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13), heart rate (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.02), hypertension (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.01-3.49) and using of ACEI/ARB (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.76) in non-PCI group.

CONCLUSIONS

In elderly ACS patients, PCI-treatment was associated with improved 1 and 3-year survival and PCI-treated patients had different prognostic profile compared to those without PCI treatment.

Editor's Choice - Frailty and the management of patients with acute cardiovascular disease: A position paper from the Acute Cardiovascular Care Association

Frailty is increasingly seen among patients with acute cardiovascular disease. A combination of an ageing population, improved disease survival, treatable long-term conditions as well as a greater recognition of the syndrome has accelerated the prevalence of frailty in the modern world. Yet, this has not been matched by an expansion of research. National and international bodies have identified acute cardiovascular disease in the frail as a priority area for care and an entity that requires careful clinical decisions, but there remains a paucity of guidance on treatment efficacy and safety, and how to manage this complex group. This position paper from the Acute Cardiovascular Care Association presents the latest evidence about frailty and the management of frail patients with acute cardiovascular disease, and suggests avenues for future research.

Factors influencing choice of pre-hospital transportation of patients with potential acute coronary syndrome: An observational study

OBJECTIVE

To determine factors associated with ambulance use in patients with confirmed and potential acute coronary syndrome presenting to the ED.

METHODS

A convenience sample of patients (n = 247) presenting to the ED from April 2014 to January 2015 with suspected acute coronary syndrome were included in the study. Data on mode of transport and patient demographics were collected from the Emergency Department Information System database. Clinical data were collected from chart records and information systems. A questionnaire assessed reasons for using a chosen method of transport, symptom timing and characteristics, acute coronary syndrome knowledge, and awareness of the National Heart Foundation Early Warning Symptoms campaign.

RESULTS

Approximately half the patients (49.4%) assessed with symptoms of potential acute coronary syndrome used ambulance transport to the ED. Patients who arrived by ambulance were older than those not arriving by ambulance (mean 56.7 years vs 51.7 years, P = 0.01). Risk factors were not associated with ambulance use. Dizziness (P < 0.01), sweating (P = 0.03), nausea (P = 0.03) and vomiting (P = 0.04) were associated with increased ambulance use. Mean systolic blood pressure was lower in the ambulance group (136 mmHg, standard deviation [SD] = 19.8) than in the non-ambulance group (143 mmHg, SD = 25.9). Awareness of the National Heart Foundation Heart Attack Warning Signs campaign was not associated with ambulance use.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with possible ischaemic symptoms who are at a high risk of cardiac disease do not utilise ambulance services more than low risk patients. In general, transport to hospital using ambulance services by patients with symptoms of possible acute coronary syndrome is low despite community campaigns.

Reperfusion Damage - A Story of Success, Failure, and Hope

Tissue salvage of severely ischemic myocardium requires timely reperfusion by thrombolysis, angioplasty, or bypass. However, recovery of left ventricular function is rare. It may be absent or, even worse, reperfusion can induce further damage. Laboratory studies have shown convincingly that reperfusion can increase injury over and above that attributable to the pre-existing ischemia, precipitating arrhythmias, suppressing the recovery of contractile function ("stunning") and possibly even causing cell death in potentially salvable ischemic tissue. The mechanisms of reperfusion injury have been widely studied and, in the laboratory, it can be attenuated or prevented. Disappointingly, this is not the case in the clinic, particularly after thrombolysis or primary angioplasty. In contrast, excellent results have been achieved by surgeons by means of cardioplegia and hypothermia. For the interventionist, the issue is more complex as, contrary to cardiac surgery where the cardioplegia can be applied before ischemia and the heart can be stopped, during an angioplasty the heart still has to beat to support the circulation. We analyze in detail all these issues.

Expert Opinion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Older People: Does Age Make a Difference?

As many people are living longer, much older patients are now commonly being seen in clinical practice. The management of coronary disease in this group presents formidable challenges. We review the epidemiology of coronary disease in this population and report on the burden of comorbidity, influence of frailty, problems with polypharmacy, interactions and compliance for the older patient. We discuss the management of stable and acute coronary syndromes, the specific anatomical challenges of the older coronary artery, the outcomes of the limited number of trials involving older patients, and review the guidelines available.

Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of Older Adults: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society: Executive Summary

The incidence and prevalence of most cardiovascular disorders increase with age, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults aged 75 and older. Despite the effect of CVD on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in older adults, individuals aged 75 and older have been markedly underrepresented in most major cardiovascular trials, and virtually all trials have excluded older adults with complex comorbidities, significant physical or cognitive disabilities, frailty, or residence in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As a result, current guidelines are unable to provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of older adults typical of those encountered in routine clinical practice. The objectives of this scientific statement are to summarize current guideline recommendations as they apply to older adults, identify critical gaps in knowledge that preclude informed evidence-based decision-making, and recommend future research to close existing knowledge gaps. To achieve these objectives, a detailed review was conducted of current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) guidelines to identify content and recommendations that explicitly targeted older adults. A pervasive lack of evidence to guide clinical decision-making in older adults with CVD was found, as well as a paucity of data on the effect of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on outcomes that are particularly important to older adults, such as quality of life, physical function, and maintenance of independence. Accordingly, there is a critical need for a multitude of large population-based studies and clinical trials that include a broad spectrum of older adults representative of those seen in clinical practice and that incorporate relevant outcomes important to older adults in the study design. The results of these studies will provide the foundation for future evidence-based guidelines applicable to older adults and enhance person-centered care of older individuals with CVD in the United States and around the world.

Activities of daily living as an additional predictor of complications and outcomes in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Age is an important determinant of outcome in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, in clinical settings, there is an occasional mismatch between chronological age and physical age. We evaluated whether activities of daily living (ADL), which reflect physical age, also predict complications and prognosis in elderly patients with AMI.

Design

Single-center, observational, and retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Preserved ADL and low ADL were defined according to the scale for independence degree of daily living for the disabled elderly by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. We examined 82 consecutive patients aged ≥75 years with AMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were divided into preserved ADL (n=52; mean age, 81.8±4.8 years; male, 59.6%) and low ADL (n=30; mean age, 85.8±4.7 years; male, 40.0%) groups according to prehospital ADL.

Results

The prevalence of Killip class II–IV and in-hospital mortality rate were significantly higher with low ADL compared to that with preserved ADL (23.1% vs 60.0%, P=0.0019; 5.8% vs 30.0%, P=0.0068, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that ADL was an independent predictor of Killip class II–IV and 1-year mortality after adjusting for age, sex, and other possible confounders (odds ratio 5.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52–17.2, P=0.0083; hazard ratio 4.32, 95% CI 1.31–14.3, P=0.017, respectively).

Conclusion

Prehospital ADL is a significant predictor of heart failure complications and prognosis in elderly patients with AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, irrespective of age and sex.

Management of Patients Aged ≥85 Years With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Guidelines mandate urgent revascularization in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) irrespective of age. Whether this strategy is optimal in patients aged ≥85 years remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients aged ≥85 years with STEMI stratified by their management strategy. We analyzed baseline clinical characteristics of 101 consecutive patients aged ≥85 years who presented with STEMI to a tertiary Australian hospital. Patients were stratified based on whether they underwent invasive management with urgent coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention or conservative management. Our primary outcome was long-term mortality. Independent predictors of conservative management and long-term mortality were assessed by multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard modeling respectively. Of the 101 patients included, 45 underwent invasive management. Independent predictors of having conservative management were older age, anterior STEMI, and cognitive impairment (all p <0.01). Patients managed invasively had lower in-hospital (13.3% vs 32.1%, p = 0.03), 30-day (13.3% vs 37.5%, p <0.01), 12-month (22.2% vs 57.1%, p <0.01), and long-term (40.0% vs 75.0%, p <0.01) mortality. Invasive management was an independent predictor of lower long-term mortality (hazard ratio 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.76, p <0.01). In conclusion, patients aged ≥85 years with STEMI who were older, had cognitive impairment or presented with anterior ST-elevation were more likely to be managed conservatively. Those who underwent invasive management had reasonable short- and long-term outcomes.

Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of the Older Adult Population: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society

The incidence and prevalence of most cardiovascular disorders increase with age, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults ≥75 years of age; however, despite the large impact of cardiovascular disease on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in older adults, patients aged ≥75 years have been markedly underrepresented in most major cardiovascular trials, and virtually all trials have excluded older patients with complex comorbidities, significant physical or cognitive disabilities, frailty, or residence in a nursing home or assisted living facility. As a result, current guidelines are unable to provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of older patients typical of those encountered in routine clinical practice. The objectives of this scientific statement are to summarize current guideline recommendations as they apply to older adults, identify critical gaps in knowledge that preclude informed evidence-based decision making, and recommend future research to close existing knowledge gaps. To achieve these objectives, we conducted a detailed review of current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and American Stroke Association guidelines to identify content and recommendations that explicitly targeted older patients. We found that there is a pervasive lack of evidence to guide clinical decision making in older patients with cardiovascular disease, as well as a paucity of data on the impact of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on key outcomes that are particularly important to older patients, such as quality of life, physical function, and maintenance of independence. Accordingly, there is a critical need for a multitude of large population-based studies and clinical trials that include a broad spectrum of older patients representative of those seen in clinical practice and that incorporate relevant outcomes important to older patients in the study design. The results of these studies will provide the foundation for future evidence-based guidelines applicable to older patients, thereby enhancing patient-centered evidence-based care of older people with cardiovascular disease in the United States and around the world.

[A case review: About a STEMI in the very elderly]

Because of the demographic growth of our societies and the increasing prevalence of coronary artery disease with age, we will be increasingly faced with the treatment of myocardial ST+ very elderly patients (>90 years?). If evidence-based medicine does not exist within this framework, there are many registries that can guide us in their care. First, age should not in itself be an indication against reperfusion conventional techniques. In fact recommendations put no upper age limit. The primary angioplasty technical success, which is identical to the younger populations, is the treatment of choice and should be performed preferably by radial arterial access. The thrombolytic alternative, validated for octogenarians, has not been studied for older. Bleeding, neurological, ischemic complications and hospital mortality are more common than in younger populations, especially as the initial hemodynamic alteration is important, but the survivors have the same life-threatening or even better than that of a same reference population ages. Which in itself even justifies maximum adhesion to the therapeutic recommendations taking into account the co-morbidities and possible visceral shortcomings.

Acute coronary syndrome in the elderly: the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Disease Database-Acute Coronary Syndrome registry

INTRODUCTION

The elderly are often underrepresented in clinical trials for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and cardiologists commonly face management dilemmas in the choice of treatment for this group of patients, particularly concerning the use of invasive revascularisation. This study analysed the characteristics of hospitalised elderly patients with ACS, and compared the outcomes of treatments.

METHODS

From 29 December 2005 to 26 April 2010, 13,545 patients were admitted for ACS in 16 hospitals across Malaysia. These patients were divided into two groups - elderly (≥ 65 years) and non-elderly (< 65 years). The clinical characteristics, treatment received (invasive or non-invasive) and outcomes (in-hospital and 30-day all-cause mortality) of the two groups were compared. The elderly patients were then grouped according to the type of treatment received, and the outcomes of the two subgroups were compared.

RESULTS

Elderly patients had a higher cardiovascular risk burden and a higher incidence of comorbidities. They were less likely to receive urgent revascularisation for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (elderly: 73.9% vs. non-elderly: 81.4%) and had longer door-to-needle time (elderly: 60 minutes vs. non-elderly: 50 minutes, p = 0.004). The rate of cardiac catheterisation was significantly lower in the elderly group across all ACS strata. Elderly patients had poorer outcomes than non-elderly patients, but those who received invasive treatment appeared to have better outcomes than those who received non-invasive treatment.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with ACS tend to be undertreated, both invasively and pharmacologically. Invasive treatment seems to yield better outcomes for this group of patients.

Acute coronary syndrome in octogenarians: association between percutaneous coronary intervention and long-term mortality

Aim

Evidence of improved survival after use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is limited. We assessed the association between PCI and long-term mortality in octogenarians with ACS.

Methods and results

We followed 353 consecutive patients aged ≥80 years hospitalized with ACS during 2006–2007. Among them, 182 were treated with PCI, whereas 171 were not. PCI-treated patients were younger and more often male, and had less stroke and dependency in activities of daily living, but there were no significant differences in occurrence of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and uncured malignancies between the two groups. The association between PCI and all-cause mortality was assessed in the overall cohort and a 1:1 matched cohort based on propensity score (PS). In overall cohort, 5-year all-cause mortality was 46.2% and 89.5% in the PCI and non-PCI groups, respectively. Cox regression analysis in overall cohort by adjustment for ten baseline variables showed statistically significant association between PCI and reduced long-term mortality (P<0.001, hazard ratio 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2–0.5). In propensity-matched cohort, 5-year all-cause mortality was 54.9% and 83.1% in the PCI and non-PCI groups, respectively. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log rank test showed significantly improved mean survival rates (P=0.001): 48 months (95% CI 41–54) for PCI-treated patients versus 35 months (95% CI 29–42) for non-PCI-treated patients. Furthermore, by performing Cox regression analysis, PCI was still associated with reduced long-term mortality (P=0.029, hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9) after adjustment for PS and confounders: age, male sex, cognitive deterioration, uncured malignancies, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45%, estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤35 mL/min, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, mitral regurgitation, and medication at discharge with clopidogrel and statins.

Conclusion

In octogenarians with ACS, PCI was associated with improved survival from all-cause death over 5 years of follow-up.

Acute coronary syndrome among older patients: a review

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Due to advances in medicine in the past few decades, life expectancy has increased resulting in an aging population in developed and developing countries. Acute coronary syndrome causes greater morbidity and mortality in this group of older patients, which appears to be due to age-related comorbidities. This review examines the incidence and prevalence of acute coronary syndrome among older patients, examines current treatment strategies, and evaluates the predictors of adverse outcomes. In particular, the impact of frailty on outcomes and the need for frailty assessment in developing future research and management strategies among older patients are discussed.

Management and decision-making process leading to coronary angiography and revascularization in octogenarians with coronary artery disease: Insights from a large single-center registry

AIMS

Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of death in older adults. Guidelines state that advanced age alone should not limit the use of invasive therapy. However, coronary angiograms and subsequent revascularization are often not carried out in octogenarians. The benefit/risk balance of an invasive strategy and the decision-making process are not clearly defined. The aim of the present study was to assess the decision-making process, and the in-hospital and long-term mortality based on the clinical presentation, the diagnostic approach (coronary angiogram or conservative) and the therapeutic management (revascularization or not).

METHODS

The present study was a single-center retrospective analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 522 patients aged ≥80 years, with a diagnosis of coronary disease were included from 2003 to 2009. The mean age was 82 ± 2.6 years. A total of 195 of 522 (37%) presented with a ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A coronary angiogram was carried out in 316 patients (60.5%) and 71% were treated by percutaneous coronary revascularization. A total of 39.5% were considered ineligible for a coronary angiogram due to cardiological reasons or comorbidities. Excluding cardiogenic shock, overall in-hospital mortality was 4.9%. Clinical presentation strongly influenced both in-hospital and 6-month mortality rates (cardiogenic shock 20% and 28.7%, stable angina 1% and 4.1%, respectively, P < 0.001). Long-term mortality was reduced in the coronary angiography arm compared with the conservative group (14.3% vs 20.9%, P = 0.04) whether or not revascularization was carried out.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, in octogenarians, long-term mortality was lower in the group of patients who underwent a coronary angiogram, regardless of revascularization. The selection process for coronary angiography and angioplasty was mostly influenced by the existence of age-associated comorbidities. Risk prediction models are required to reduce age-dependent biases.

Reviews of individual patient data (IPD) are useful for geriatrics: an overview of available IPD reviews

OBJECTIVES

To determine how many individual patient data (IPD) reviews that included older people were available in MEDLINE and whether the effectiveness of treatments differed between older and younger individuals.

DESIGN

Overview of IPD reviews.

SETTING

A MEDLINE search was conducted for IPD reviews of randomized controlled trials published before July 2012.

PARTICIPANTS

IPD reviews that presented a regression model that included age as a factor or a subgroup analysis of individuals aged 70 and older or in which all participants were aged 70 and older.

MEASUREMENTS

Whether the IPD reviews reported similar conclusions for the younger and older populations was evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-six IPD reviews with a subgroup of older individuals and eight reviews with only older individuals were included (median N = 3,351). The most important reason for choosing an IPD review was the ability to perform a subgroup analysis in the older population. Fourteen IPD reviews suggested that older people should receive different treatments from younger people because of differences in effectiveness, six of which indicated that the investigated treatment(s) should be avoided in older adults.

CONCLUSION

IPD review is a valuable approach for generating evidence in older adults. Treatment effects frequently differed between older and younger individuals. Still, IPD results should be applied to older adults cautiously, because they are often excluded from primary trials. The collaborative sharing of raw data should be promoted to improve evidence-based decisions for this group.

A systematic review of individual patient data meta-analyses on surgical interventions

BACKGROUND

Compared to subgroup analyses in a single study or in a traditional meta-analysis, an individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA) offers important potential advantages. We studied how many IPDMAs report on surgical interventions, how many of those surgical IPDMAs perform subgroup analyses, and whether these subgroup analyses have changed decision-making in clinical practice.

METHODS

Surgical IPDMAs were identified using a comprehensive literature search. The last search was conducted on 24 April 2012. For each IPDMA included, we obtained information using a standardized data extraction form, and the quality of reporting was assessed. We also checked whether results were implemented in clinical guidelines.

RESULTS

Of all 583 identified IPDMAs, 22 (4%) reported on a surgical intervention. Eighteen (82%) of these IPDMAs presented subgroup analyses. Subgroups were mainly based on patient and disease characteristics. The median number of reported subgroup analyses was 3.5 (IQR 1.25-6.5). Statistical methods for subgroup analyses were mentioned in 11 (61%) surgical IPDMAs.Eleven (61%) of the 18 IPDMAs performing subgroup analyses reported a significant overall effect estimate, whereas six (33%) reported a non-significant one. Of the IPDMAs that reported non-significant overall results, three IPDMAs (50%) reported significant results in one or more subgroup analyses. Results remained significant in one or more subgroups in eight of the IPDMAs (73%) that reported a significant overall result.Eight (44%) of the 18 significant subgroups appeared to be implemented in clinical guidelines. The quality of reporting among surgical IPDMAs varied from low to high quality.

CONCLUSION

Many of the surgical IPDMAs performed subgroup analyses, but overall treatment effects were more often emphasized than subgroup effects. Although, most surgical IPDMAs included in the present study have only recently been published, about half of the significant subgroups were already implemented in treatment guidelines.

Short- and long-term outcomes in octogenarians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting

AIMS

To investigate the incidence of cardiac events in octogenarians who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting, as well as to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) in this population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study included 6,129 consecutive patients who underwent PCI with stenting from 2000 to 2005 in our centre, of whom 291 (4.7%) were octogenarians. After adjusting for confounders, age ≥80 years appeared a significant predictor of high mortality at 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.92, 95% CI 1.23-3.01), and four years (aHR 2.25, 95% CI 1.77-2.85). No differences were seen with respect to incident myocardial infarction (MI), but target lesion (63.2 vs. 32.6 per 1,000 person-years at one year and 27.9 vs. 16.6 per 1,000 person-years at four years) and vessel (83.1 vs. 52.9 per 1,000 person-years at one year and 37.7 vs. 25.0 per 1,000 person-years at four years) revascularisation rates were lower in octogenarians. When comparing DES with bare metal stents (BMS) in octogenarians, mortality and MI rates were comparable, but there was a significantly lower incidence of target lesion revascularisation at one- (9.5 vs. 0.6 per 1,000 person-years, aHR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.57) and four-year (3.4 vs. 0.7 per 1,000 person-years, aHR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04-0.59) follow-up in patients who received a DES.

CONCLUSIONS

Octogenarians undergoing PCI with stenting have an increased mortality risk, whereas the rates of repeat revascularisation in octogenarians are lower. This study suggests that the benefit of DES in reducing revascularisation rates is extended to elderly patients.

[Do elderly patients benefit from recent advances in the treatment of ischemic heart disease?]

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a transradial approach can be performed in very elderly patients with ischemic heart disease. In our hospital, 20% of elderly patients, who did not undergo emergency PCI for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), died. In contrast, only 7.3% of the elderly patients with ACS (80-98 yrs old, mean age 85 ± 4 years) died, and 4.6% of those (66-79 yrs old, mean age 73 ± 4 years) died after successful emergency PCI. In-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events were associated with anemia, CRP levels at admission, max CK-MB, and the number of involved vessels. The long-term prognosis of the elderly patients after emergency PCI was good with optimum medication, and it was associated with max CK-MB and renal function. Therefore, the indications for emergency PCI for elderly patients with ACS should be identical to that for young patients. However, elderly patients with ACS often show ambiguous symptoms, which make it difficult for them to undergo emergency PCI. Dementia and renal dysfunction are also problematic. On the other hand, improvement in the long-term prognosis of chronic ischemic heart disease by PCI has been shown in elderly patients, but not in younger patients. Observational monitoring showed a better mid-term prognosis after PCI with drug-eluting stent, but bare metal stents are preferable in cases of elderly patients with ACS.

High-risk patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction derive greatest absolute benefit from primary percutaneous coronary intervention: results from the Primary Coronary Angioplasty Trialist versus thrombolysis (PCAT)-2 collaboration

BACKGROUND

Meta-analyses of randomized trials show that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) results in lower mortality than fibrinolytic therapy in patients with myocardial infarction. We investigated which categories of patients with myocardial infarction would benefit most from the strategy of PPCI and, thus, have lowest numbers needed to treat to prevent a death.

METHODS

Individual patient data were obtained from 22 (n = 6,763) randomized trials evaluating efficacy and safety of PPCI versus fibrinolysis. A risk score was developed and validated to estimate the probability of 30-day death in individuals. Patients were then divided in quartiles according to risk. Subsequent analyses were performed to evaluate if the treatment effect was modified by estimated risk.

RESULTS

Overall, 446 patients (6.6%) died within 30 days after randomization. The mortality risk score contained clinical characteristics, including the time from symptom onset to randomization. The c-index was 0.76, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was nonsignificant, reflecting adequate discrimination and calibration. Patients randomized to PPCI had lower mortality than did patients randomized to fibrinolysis (5.3% vs 7.9%, adjusted odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.84, P < .001). The interaction between risk score and allocated treatment interaction term had no significant contribution (P = .52) to the model, indicating that the relative mortality reduction by PPCI was similar at all levels of estimated risk. In contrast, the absolute risk reduction was strongly related to estimated risk at baseline: the numbers needed to treat to prevent a death by PPCI versus fibrinolysis was 516 in the lowest quartile of estimated risk compared with only 17 in the highest quartile.

CONCLUSION

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is consistently associated with a strong relative reduction in 30-day mortality, irrespective of patient baseline risk, and should therefore be considered as the first choice reperfusion strategy whenever feasible. If access to percutaneous coronary intervention is >2 hours, fibrinolysis remains a legitimate option in low-risk patients because of the small absolute risk reduction by PPCI in this particular cohort.