Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients 70 years of age or older: 12 years' experience

Immediate and long-term results of coronary angioplasty in patients aged 80 years and older

Objectives. To observe the short- and long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in octogenarians (>80 y.o.) at our institution. Method. All octogenarians who underwent PCI during the study period were retrospectively retrieved from our database and clinically followed. Major adverse cardiac (and cerebral) events (MAC(C)E) was considered as primary outcome. Results. From January 2003 to December 2007, 140 octogenarians (mean age: 85±3 y.o., 79% of male) underwent PCI and were clinically followed 14±11 months. Procedural success was obtained in 100 percent of patients with single vessel disease, in 96 percent of patients with double vessel disease, and in 75 percent of patients with triple vessel disease. In-hospital, 30 days, and one year MACE rates were 5%, 5%, and 10.7%, respectively. Impaired left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.909, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.856 to 0.964, P = .002), diabetes mellitus (HR = 5.792, 95%  CI = 1.785 to 18.796, P = .003), and low GFR (HR = 2.943, 95%  CI = 1.161, to 7.464, P = .023) were independently associated with an increase risk of MACE at long-term followup. Conclusion. Coronary angiography can be successfully performed in elderly patients with single and double vessel disease. The results in triple vessel disease are encouraging. Low LV function, diabetes, and impaired renal function increase the risk of long-term major adverse cardiac events.

Multicenter experience in revascularization of very elderly patients

BACKGROUND

Very elderly patients are increasingly referred for revascularization yet have been underrepresented in both prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary bypass surgery (CABG) clinical trials. We pooled the largest PCI and CABG clinical registries in the United States to better understand revascularization procedure use, risks and outcomes in patients aged > or =75 years.

METHODS

Six PCI registries (n = 48,439) and 8 CABG registries (n = 180,709) voluntarily contributed all procedural data in patients aged > or =75 years from 1990 through 1999. Patient characteristics, procedural process, and inhospital mortality and morbidity outcomes were evaluated. Risk factors for mortality in elderly patients were identified and compared across registries using standardized multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Between the years 1991 and 1999, the proportion of patients aged > or =75 years undergoing revascularization was on the rise (10% increase). Pooled estimates of inhospital mortality following PCI during this decade was 3.0% (range 1.5%-5.2% among databases), and following CABG was 5.9% (range 4.9%-8.4% among databases). Mortality rates declined significantly in older patients for both PCI and CABG over this decade. While process measures varied across registries, the most significant predictors of inhospital death (procedural urgency, left ventricular dysfunction, prior CABG) seemed consistent across all sites.

CONCLUSION

Over the last decade, the use of coronary revascularization in elderly patients increased and outcomes improved. While age remains a determinant of procedural risk, this risk varies markedly among elderly patients, emphasizing the need for individualized risk assessments.

In-hospital outcomes of contemporary percutaneous coronary interventions in the very elderly

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among the elderly (> 65 years) and the very elderly (> 85 years). Little information is available regarding the outcome of very elderly patients referred for PCI in the current era of improved techniques, devices, and pharmacotherapy. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of very elderly patients > or = 85 years of age in a large, contemporary, multi-institutional PCI database. Five hospitals in the New York City metropolitan area contributed these prospectively defined data elements on consecutive patients undergoing PCI from 1 January 1998 to 1 October 1999. Of 10,847 patients, 5,341 (49%) were younger than 65 years, 3,342 (31%) were 65-74 years, 1,885 (17%) were 75-84 years, and 279 (2.6%) were at least 85 years of age. Following PCI, the very elderly developed stroke (P < 0.001) and renal failure requiring dialysis (P = 0.002) more commonly than younger patients following PCI. The very elderly had a significantly increased in-hospital mortality rate at 2.5% (P < 0.001). However, on multivariate analysis, age > or = 85 years was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 0.37-4.07). The very elderly should not be refused PCI on the basis of advanced age alone.

Post-myocardial infarction risk stratification in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of post-myocardial infarction (MI) risk stratification in the elderly. Although expert panels have recommended risk stratification after MI, limited data are available on whether patients actually undergo suggested testing. In particular, concern has been raised that the elderly, who are at high risk for recurrent ischemia and short-term death, are not referred as often as younger patients for post-MI testing.

METHODS

We studied the records of 192,311 Medicare patients (age > or = 65 years) admitted with MI between January 1992 and November 1992. By combining Medicare part A and part B data, we created a longitudinal record of patient care within 60 days of an MI admission. We describe the pattern of post-MI testing for ischemia and left ventricular function and outcomes as a function of patient age.

RESULTS

Patients > or = 75 years of age were significantly less likely than patients 65 to 74 years of age to have either cardiac catheterization (17% vs 43%) or any test for coronary artery disease severity (24% vs 53%). They were also less likely to have a test of left ventricular function (61% vs 76%). Even after adjustment for baseline characteristics, older patients remained less likely than younger patients to have an assessment of coronary artery disease severity (odds ratio, 0.44) or left ventricular function (odds ratio, 0.65).

CONCLUSIONS

Post-MI risk stratification declines with age and falls short of recommendations in our nation's elderly. This lack of testing may result in lost opportunities for therapeutic interventions in this high-risk group.

Target vessel revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass in elderly high-risk patients

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients over 75 years is associated with high operative risk. Target vessel revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is a promising option for highly selected, older patients. However, the outcome remains uncertain.

METHODS

We investigated 44 patients over 75 years, matched for preoperative risk and left ventricular function, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting either with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We analyzed patients characteristics, Parsonnet score, EuroSCORE, short as well as midterm outcome and quality of life (freedom from recurrence of angina, anti-anginal therapy, sf36 test).

RESULTS

Perioperative mortality was higher in the patient group operated with CPB (15.9) as compared to patients operated without CPB (4.5%, p = 0.0226). Patients operated with cardiopulmonary bypass received more grafts (3.1 +/- 0.1) than patients operated without cardiopulmonary bypass (1.6 +/- 0.1, p = 0.0001) and and were more likely to undergo complete revascularization (with CPB 100%, without CPB 63.6%, p = 0.0010). Perioperative complications were more frequent and midterm survival was worse in the patient group operated with CPB (log rank p = 0.0228). Quality of life was comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The concept of incomplete target vessel revascularization of the culprit lesion seems to be a promising option for selected high-risk patients, predominantly due to lower perioperative mortality.

Influence of patient age on acute and late clinical outcomes following Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent implantation

Procedural success may be lower and complication rates higher after balloon angioplasty in older patients. Elective stent implantation improves procedural outcome in younger patients; however, few series have specifically analyzed the octogenarian population. Therefore, we studied 2,534 consecutive patients (3,965 native coronary artery stenoses) who were treated electively with Palmaz-Schatz stents and divided them into 3 groups: (1) < or = 70 years old (n = 1,805), (2) 71 to 80 years old (elderly, n = 607), and (3) > 80 years old (octogenarian, n = 122). Major in-hospital complications (death, myocardial infarction, and urgent bypass surgery) were significantly higher in the octogenarians than in the elderly and patients < or = 70 years of age (4.5% vs 2.0% and 1.5%; p = 0.001). At 1-year follow-up, cardiac events (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and need for any revascularization) did not differ among groups; however, there was a stepwise increase in late death in octogenarians (5%) compared with elderly patients (2%) and patients aged < or = 70 years (1%) (p = 0.001). Target lesion revascularization was similar among the groups (11% in octogenarian vs 14% in elderly and 15% in patients < or = 70 years, p = 0.791). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, age was an independent predictor of late mortality (odds ratio 1.05, p = 0.0001), but not a predictor of target lesion revascularization. Stent implantation in octogenarians is associated with (1) more acute complications, (2) a higher in-hospital mortality, (3) a higher late mortality, and (4) a target lesion revascularization similar to younger patients.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in the elderly: epidemiology, clinical risk factors, and in-hospital outcomes. The Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group

OBJECTIVES

To explore the relation between older age and clinical presentation, procedural success, and in-hospital outcomes among a large unselected population undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

BACKGROUND

Although more elderly patients are receiving PTCA, studies of post-PTCA outcomes among the elderly have been limited by small numbers and exclusive selection criteria.

METHODS

Data were collected as a part of a prospective registry of all percutaneous coronary interventions performed in Maine, New Hampshire, and from 1 institution in Massachusetts between October 1989 and December 1993. Comparisons across 4 age groups, (<60, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 years and above) were performed using chi-square tests, the Mantel-Haenzsel test for trend, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Twelve thousand one hundred seventy-two hospitalizations for PTCA were performed with 507 of them (4%) in persons at least 80 years old. Octogenarians were more likely to be women, have multivessel disease, high-grade stenoses, and complex lesions but were less likely to have hypercholesterolemia, a history of smoking, or have undergone a previous PTCA. In the elderly, PTCAs were more often performed urgently and for unstable syndromes compared with younger age groups. Advancing age is strongly associated with in-hospital death, and among the oldest old with an increased risk of postprocedural myocardial infarction. Despite differing presentation and procedural priority, angiographic success and subsequent bypass surgery did not vary by age.

CONCLUSIONS

With the increasing age of the population at large as well as that segment at risk for cardiac revascularization, information about age-associated risks of the procedure, especially the substantially higher risk of death in octogenarians, will be critical for both physicians and patients considering PTCA.

Coronary artery stenting in the elderly: short-term outcome and long-term angiographic and clinical follow-up

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of elderly patients undergoing coronary artery stenting with those of younger patients and to determine the long-term clinical outcome and survival of elderly patients post stent implantation.

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients undergoing coronary revascularization are considered a high-risk group. Few data exist that relate the results of stenting in treating coronary artery disease in the elderly population.

METHODS

All elderly patients >75 years of age who underwent coronary artery stenting between March 1993 and July 1997 (n=137) at our center were compared to the patients <75 who underwent coronary artery stenting during the same time period (n=2,551). Long-term clinical follow-up and survival were determined for the elderly group.

RESULTS

Elderly patients presented with lower ejection fractions (54% vs. 58%, p=0.0001), more unstable angina (47% vs. 28%, p=0.0001), and more multivessel disease (78% vs. 62%, p= 0.0001) than younger patients. These older patients had higher rates of procedure related complications including procedural myocardial infarction (MI) (2.9% vs. 1.7%, p=0.2), emergency CABG (3.7% vs. 1.4%, p=0.04), and death (2.2% vs. 0.12%, p=0.0001). Angiographic follow-up, obtained in both groups, demonstrated significantly higher restenosis rates in the elderly versus younger patients (47% vs. 28%, p=0.0007). Longer term clinical follow-up, which was obtained only in the elderly group, showed that at a mean follow-up period of 12 months post coronary stenting, elderly survival free from death, MI, revascularization and angina was 54% and that their overall survival was 91%. Subanalysis of the elderly patients who died showed much higher incidence of combined unstable angina (80%), prior MI (60%), lower ejection fraction (46%), multivessel disease (100%) and complex lesions (100%) than the overall group.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients who undergo coronary artery stenting have significantly higher rates of procedural complications and worse six month outcomes than younger patients, especially those who present with combined unstable angina, history of MI, EF < 50%, multivessel disease and complex lesions. Overall survival in the elderly population at 12 months postcoronary artery stenting was 91% and event-free survival was 54%.

Outcome > or = 10 years after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Patients (n = 611) after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were prospectively followed over 10 to 16 years for major adverse events. The effect of gender, extent of coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction, and age on occurrence of adverse events were analyzed in detail. The incidence of death, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and coronary bypass surgery was 23.1%, 3.9%, and 32.7%, respectively. Men and women had similar mortality (p = 0.13) and Q-wave myocardial infarction (p = 0.57), but men had more coronary bypass surgery (p = 0.06). Patients with multivessel disease had higher mortality (p < 0.0001), and patients with 3-vessel disease had a higher incidence of Q-wave myocardial infarction (p = 0.04) and coronary bypass surgery (p < 0.001). Left ventricular dysfunction was associated with higher mortality (p < 0.0001) and coronary bypass surgery (p = 0.045), but not Q-wave myocardial infarction (p = 0.99). Mortality was higher in elderly patients (p < 0.0001), but the incidence of Q-wave myocardial infarction was similar (p = 0.64). Older patients underwent coronary bypass surgery less often (p = 0.004). By multivariate analysis, only the extent of coronary disease (relative risk [RR] 1.71, confidence interval [CI] 1.34 to 2.19; p = 0.0001), diabetes mellitus (RR 1.82, CI 1.28 to 2.59; p = 0.001), hypertension (RR 1.30, CI 1.08 to 1.96, p = 0.009), male gender (RR 1.30, CI 0.99 to 1.71, p = 0.058), and prior myocardial infarction (RR 1.44, CI 1.14 to 1.81, p = 0.002) independently influenced the incidence of major adverse events. We conclude that it is possible to identify patients with worse long-term prognosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty based on clinical and angiographic parameters.