1000–39 Advanced Age Does not Diminish the Results of PTCA for Acute Ischemic Syndromes

Abstract

Advanced age has been recognized as adversely influencing the outcome of coronary revascularization procedures. To determine the validity of this relationship for patients (pts) with acute ischemic syndromes treated with contemporary medical therapy, the outcomes of 444 pts who had PTCA performed in TIMI IIIB were analyzed. Each pt received aspirin, heparin and antianginal therapy. Age > = 65 (N = 154) % (mean) Age < 65 (N = 290) % (mean) p-value Age (years) (69.7) (53.9) 0.000 Male Gender 51.9 73.8 0.000 Never Smoked 39.0 26.6 0.007 Prior MI 35.7 32.8 0.531 Hypertension 46.7 35.5 0.023 Non-Q-Wave MI 31.4 40.3 0.063 Abnormal ECG 92.9 94.1 0.597 LV EF (61.3) (58.7) 0.038 2 – 3 Vessel Disease 50.0 36.0 0.005 Angiographic Success 95.5 96.4 0.689 Events by 42 days Death 1.3 1.4 0.938 MI 6.5 5.5 0.671 Stroke 0.0 0.3 0.463 CABG 1.3 4.2 0.102 Death/MI/Stroke/CABG 8.4 9.0 0.864 In comparison to younger pts., elderly pts having PTCA in TIMI IIIB were more often female, had not smoked, had history of hypertension and had multivessel coronary disease. The results of PTCA were equally excellent in both groups. Thus, advanced age alone does not adversely affect the results of PTCA in selected pts with acute ischemic syndromes.