Abstract
The introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES) in 2003 has had a great impact on the management of coronary artery disease in the United States. The application of DES to older adults, the population with the highest prevalence of and worst prognosis for coronary artery disease, remains relatively more controversial. Dual-antiplatelet therapy, which is recommended for at least 12months after DES placement, is particularly problematic for older patients because of greater age-related bleeding risks. Unfortunately, few current data are available to gauge the balance of risk and benefit in elderly community-dwelling DES patients. Although trial data show a benefit for DES among elderly patients, many older adults typically are excluded from randomized trials because of comorbidities, making generalizability of DES safety based on trial data less certain. New, more potent thienopyridines may place the elderly at a particularly elevated bleeding risk. There is a fine balance between efficacy and safety for older DES patients that still needs to be clarified. As the population ages, these issues become more pervasive and of widespread concern. This review summarizes the current literature on DES therapy in the elderly, with a focus on effectiveness and safety profiles of DES versus bare metal stents.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
