Comparison of outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in patients of three age groups (<60, 60 to 80, and >80 years) (from the New York State Angioplasty Registry)

Bleeding Risk in Elderly Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Comprehensive Review

The care of elderly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) presents unique challenges due to age-related physiological and functional changes. With the global population aging rapidly, this demographic change affects a growing proportion of individuals requiring PCI. However, advanced age is associated with increased susceptibility to ischemic and bleeding complications, driven by physiological changes such as altered coagulation, vascular stiffness, and declining organ function. These factors complicate the management of CAD, making the balance between reducing thrombotic events and minimizing bleeding risks particularly challenging. Antiplatelet therapy is central to post-PCI management, but its benefits and risks differ significantly in elderly patients compared to younger populations. Tools like the PRECISE-DAPT and ARC-HBR provide guidance on dual antiplatelet therapy duration and bleeding risk stratification. However, their applicability and predictive accuracy in elderly patients remain areas of active investigation. This underscores the need for improved risk assessment methods tailored to the unique needs of aging individuals. In this review, we explore the epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical aspects of CAD in elderly patients, emphasizing the impact of aging on disease presentation and outcomes. Furthermore, we assess current risk stratification tools and discuss their limitations in predicting adverse events in older populations. By synthesizing these insights, we aim to highlight the complexities of managing elderly CAD patients and identify opportunities for optimizing personalized care to achieve better outcomes in this vulnerable group.

Optimal management of high bleeding risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions: Where do we stand?

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are the mainstay of treating obstructive coronary artery disease. However, procedural planning and individualization of the procedure is necessary for different patient phenotypes to optimize outcomes. Specifically, post-PCI pharmacotherapy with antiplatelets complicates the management of patients at high bleeding risk due to comorbidities, such as atrial fibrillation. Aiming to limit post-procedural adverse events and reduce the procedure-related bleeding risk, several novel technologies and hypotheses have been tested in clinical practice. Such frontiers include limiting the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy or even prescribing single regimens, using drug-coated balloons for performing the intervention and the effect of imaging-guided PCI in optimizing stent expansion. Furthermore, specific instruction in different patient phenotypes, such as atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease, are emerging, as despite both pathologies being considered at high bleeding risk, one size does not fit all. Thus, our review will provide all the recent updates on the field as well as algorithms and expert opinions on how to manage this, particularly common, phenotype of patient.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Elderly Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Observational Cohort Study

Background

The global trend of population aging has resulted in more frequent cardiovascular disease among seniors. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is the standard of care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without an upper age limit. Nevertheless, the outcomes are variable among studies, and data on pPCI outcomes in the elderly in Africa is scarce. Thus, we attempted to gain better insight into the outcomes of primary PCI in this age group from a single center in upper Egypt.

Objective

To study the patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of pPCI in elderly patients presenting with STEMI in a tertiary cardiac center in upper Egypt.

Methods and results

This observational cohort study was based on data from the pPCI registry in a tertiary cardiac center in upper Egypt, which included 3,627 consecutive patients who underwent pPCI between January 2014 and June 2023. The elderly were defined as those aged 70 years or older and represented 15.9% (575 patients) of the entire cohort, of whom 103 (2.8%) were octogenarians. Clinical characteristics, procedural details, and in-hospital outcomes were compared between the age groups. The elderly had a significant trend of being female and hypertensive, and having chronic kidney disease (CKD), worse Killip class, more frequent severe non-culprit vessel lesions, and left main trunk involvement. The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher than that of younger patients (14.1 vs. 4%, p = <0.001), with higher mortality in octogenarians (23.3%). Killip class ≥II was independently associated with increased hospital mortality in all study age groups. Contrast-induced nephropathy and TIMI major bleeding were also significantly higher.

Conclusion

Compared to younger patients, elderly patients undergoing pPCI had a higher prevalence of hypertension and CKD and were more likely to have a worse Killip class. The radial approach was utilized less often in the elderly group. In-hospital complications and mortality, particularly among the octogenarians, were significantly higher than in younger patients.

1- Versus 3-Month DAPT in Older Patients at a High Bleeding Risk Undergoing PCI: Insights from the XIENCE Short DAPT Global Program

This analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of 1- versus 3-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in older patients. Data from 3 prospective, single-arm studies (XIENCE Short DAPT Program), including patients with high bleeding risk successfully treated with an everolimus-eluting stent (XIENCE, Abbott) were analyzed. DAPT was discontinued at 1 or at 3 months in patients free from ischemic events and adherent to DAPT. Patients were stratified according to age (≥75 and <75 years). The primary end point was all-cause death or myocardial infarction (MI). The key secondary end point was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2 to 5 bleeding. The outcomes were assessed from 1 to 12 months after index PCI. Of 3,364 patients, 2,241 (66.6%) were aged ≥75 years. The risk of death or MI was similar with 1- versus 3-month DAPT in patients aged ≥75 (8.5% vs 8.0%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69 to 1.30) and <75 years (6.9% vs 7.8%, adjusted HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.57, interaction p = 0.478). Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2 to 5 bleeding was consistently lower with 1- than with 3-month DAPT in patients aged ≥75 years (7.2% vs 9.4%, adjusted HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.91) and <75 years (9.7% vs 11.9%, adjusted HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.29, interaction p = 0.737). In conclusion, in patients at high bleeding risk who underwent PCI, patients older and younger than 75 years derived a consistent benefit from 1- compared with 3-month DAPT in terms of bleeding reduction, with no increase in all-cause death or MI at 1 year.

Net clinical benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Contemporary dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) strategies, such as short-term DAPT or de-escalation of DAPT, have emerged as attractive strategies to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, it remains uncertain whether they are suitable for elderly patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched in September 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating DAPT strategies, including standard (12 months), short-term, uniform de-escalation, and guided-selection strategies for elderly patients with ACS (age ≥ 65 years) were identified, and a network meta-analysis was conducted. The primary endpoint was the net clinical benefit outcome, a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs: cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) and clinically relevant bleeding (equivalent to bleeding of at least type 2 according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium). The secondary outcomes were MACE and major bleeding.

RESULTS

Sixteen RCTs with a combined total of 47,911 patients were included. The uniform de-escalation strategy was associated with an improved net clinical benefit compared with DAPT using potent P2Y12 inhibitors. The short-term DAPT strategy was associated with reduced risks of the primary outcome and major bleeding compared with DAPT using potent P2Y12 inhibitors, however, it was ranked as the least effective strategy for MACE compared with other DAPT strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Uniform de-escalation and short-term DAPT strategies may be advantageous for elderly patients, but need to be tailored based on individual bleeding and ischemic risks. Further RCTs of contemporary DAPT strategies specifically designed for elderly patients are warranted to confirm the findings of the present study.

Thirty-Day Unplanned Readmissions Following Elective and Acute Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

Prior studies have reported a high rate of unplanned readmissions following acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Data outside the USA comparing 30-day unplanned readmissions following elective PCI to those who undergo acute PCI remain limited.

METHODS

Patients who underwent a PCI procedure in Australia and New Zealand between 2010 and 2015 were included. We determined the rates, causes and predictors of 30-day unplanned readmissions, as well as rates of repeat revascularisation procedures, for patients who underwent an elective or acute PCI. Predictors of readmissions were identified using logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 199,686 PCI encounters were included, of which 74,890 (37.5%) were elective and 124,796 (62.5%) were acute procedures. Overall, 10.6% of patients had at least one unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge with lower rates following elective PCI (7.0%) compared to acute PCI (12.7%) (p<0.01). Non-specific chest pain was the commonest cause of readmission after elective and acute PCI, accounting for 20.7% and 21.5% of readmission diagnoses, respectively. Readmissions for acute myocardial infarction (13.0% vs 4.6%, p<0.01) and heart failure (6.5% vs 3.3%, p<0.01) were higher following acute PCI compared to elective PCI. Among readmitted patients, 16.7% had a coronary catheterisation, 12.2% had a PCI and 0.7% had coronary artery bypass surgery. Multivariable predictors of 30-day unplanned readmission included female sex and comorbidities such as heart failure, metastatic disease, chronic lung disease and renal failure (p<0.0001 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Unplanned readmissions following elective or acute PCI are high. Clinical and quality-control measures are required to prevent avoidable readmissions in both settings.

Prognostic Significance of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for First Acute Myocardial Infarction with Heart Failure: Five-Year Follow-Up Results

Objective

The study aimed to investigate the incidence and influencing factors of heart failure after 5 years of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for first acute myocardial infarction.

Methods

A total of 1235 patients, diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction and treated with PCI in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, were enrolled. Based on the exclusion criteria, 671 patients were followed up to obtain echocardiographic results 5 years after the onset of myocardial infarction (from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019). Of 671 patients, 62 were lost to follow-up. Finally, 609 patients were recruited in this study. According to the results of the echocardiographic examination, patients were divided into a heart failure group (n = 97) (LVEF < 50%) and a nonheart failure group (n = 512) (LVEF ≥ 50%). The clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups, and the influencing factors of heart failure after 5 years of PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction were analyzed using logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses.

Results

Of 609 patients, 97 had heart failure within 5 years after PCI for first myocardial infarction, with an incidence of 15.9%. Multivariate regression analysis finally examined the predictors related to the occurrence of heart failure, including age (aOR, 1.008; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.054–1.123; P ≤ 0.001), peak troponin I level (aOR, 1.020; 95% CI, 1.006–1.034; P = 0.004), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (during admission) (aOR, 0.908; 95% CI, 0.862–0.956; P ≤ 0.001), and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) (at admission) (aOR, 1.136; 95% CI, 1.016–1.271; P = 0.025).

Conclusion

In this study, the incidence of heart failure (LVEF < 50%) in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent PCI was 15.9% at a five-year follow up. Age, peak troponin I level, and LVEDD (at admission) were risk factors for heart failure, while LVEF (at admission) of patients during hospitalization was a protective factor for heart failure.

Complex, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention types, trends, and in-hospital outcomes among different age groups: An insight from a national registry

BACKGROUND

Complex, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (CHiP) is increasingly being undertaken in octogenarians. However, limited data exist on CHiP types, trends, and outcomes in the octogenarian.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study from a national registry dataset on CHiP undertaken in patients with stable angina in England and Wales (January 2006 and December 2017) according to three age groups (group 1 [G1]: &lt; 65 years; group 2 [G2]: 65-79 years; and group 3 [G3]: ≥80 years).

RESULTS

Of 424,290 elective PCI procedures, 138,831 (33.0%) were CHiP [G1: 46,832 (33.7%); G2: 59,544 (42.9%); G3: 32,455 (23.4%)]. Among CHiP types, chronic total occlusion (CTO) (49.2%), prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (30.4%), and severe vascular calcification (21.8%) were common in G1; prior CABG (42.9%), CTO (32.9%), and severe vascular calcifications (27%) were common in G2; prior CABG (15.8%), severe vascular calcification (15.5%), and chronic renal failure (11.1%) were common CHiP among the octogenarians. The older age groups had higher adjusted odds (aOR) for adverse outcomes [G2: mortality, aOR 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.3-2.3); major bleeding, aOR 1.3, 95% CI (1.1-1.5); MACCE, aOR 1.2, 95% CI (1.0-1.3); G3: mortality, aOR 2.6, 95%CI (1.9-3.6); major bleeding, aOR 1.4, 95% CI (1.1-1.7); MACCE, aOR 1.3, 95% CI (1.1-1.5)].

CONCLUSION

There were significant differences in the types of CHiP cases undertaken and clinical outcomes across age groups.

Routine Invasive Strategy in Elderly Patients with Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

BACKGROUND

Invasive treatment with coronary angiography is preferred approach for patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) compared to medical therapy alone. The results from the randomized clinical trials (RCT) that compared the invasive treatment strategy vs. conservative approach in the elderly (≥75 years) with NSTE-ACS has been inconsistent.

AIM

 To compare invasive and conservative strategies in the elderly (>75 years) with NSTE-ACS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL Register and ClinicalTrials.gov (inception through July 10, 2021) for RCTs comparing invasive and conservative strategies in the elderly with NSTE-ACS. We used random-effects model to calculate risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval(CI). A total of 6 RCT including 2,323 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The median follow-up duration was 13.5 months. When invasive approach was compared to conservative strategy, it showed no difference in all-cause mortality in patients aged ≥75 years with NSTE-ACS (RR of 0.85; 95% CI 0.70-1.04; P = 0.12; I² = 0%). There was significant reduction in MI (RR 0.59; 95% CI 0.49 0.71; P < 0.001; I² = 0%) and unplanned revascularization (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.53, P <0.001, I² = 0%). Invasive strategy was associated with higher risk of major bleeding when compared to conservative treatment (RR 2.12, 95% CI 1.21-3.74, P=0.009, I² = 0%). Comparison of both strategies showed no significant difference in stroke (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.38-1.46, P = 0.40; I² = 0%).

CONCLUSION

This updated meta-analysis suggests that in elderly patients (>75 years) with NSTE-ACS, a routine invasive strategy is associated with a reduction in MI and revascularization, while increasing the risk of major bleeding, but without difference in all-cause mortality and stroke.

Intervention and in-hospital pharmacoterapies in octogenarian with acute coronary syndrome: a 10-year retrospective analysis of the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Database (NCVD) registry

BACKGROUND

Octogenarians and beyond have often been neglected in the populational study of disease despite being at the highest point of non-modifiable disease risk burden and the fastest-growing age group for the past decade. This study examined the characteristics and in-hospital management of octogenarian patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a multi-ethnic, middle-income country in South East Asia.

METHOD

This retrospective study utilised the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Disease- ACS (NCVD-ACS) registry. Consecutive patient data of those ≥80 years old admitted with ACS at 24 participating hospitals from 2008 to 2017 (n = 3162) were identified. Demographics, in-hospital intervention, and evidence-based pharmacotherapies over the 10-years were examined and compared across groups of interests using the Chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio of receiving individual therapies according to patients' characteristics.

RESULTS

Octogenarians made up 3.8% of patients with ACS in the NCVD-ACS registry (mean age = 84, SD ± 3.6) from 2008 until 2017. The largest ethnic group was Chinese (44%). Most octogenarians (95%) have multiple cardiovascular risk factors, with hypertension (82%) being the main. Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) predominated (38%, p < 0.001). Within the 10-year, there were positive increments in cardiovascular intervention and pharmacotherapies. Only 10% of octogenarians with ACS underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the majority being STEMI patients (17.5%; p < 0.05). More than 80% were prescribed aspirin (91.3%) either alone or combined, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (83.3%), anticoagulants (89.7%) and statins (89.6%), while less being prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (47.6%) and beta-blockers (43.0%). Men were more likely to receive PCI than women (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 0.698; 95% CI: 0.490-0.993). NSTEMI (aOR = 0.402, 95% CI: 0.278-0.583) and unstable angina (UA) (aOR = 0.229, 95% CI: 0.143-0.366) were less likely to receive PCI but more likely given anticoagulants (NSTEMI, aOR = 1.543, 95% CI: 1.111-2.142; UA, aOR = 1.610, 95% CI: 1.120-2.314) than STEMI. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities influences management.

CONCLUSION

Octogenarians with ACS in this country were mainly treated with cardiovascular pharmacotherapies. As the number of octogenarians with ACS will continue to increase, the country needs to embrace the increasing use of PCI in this group of patients.

Age-Dependent Effect of Ticagrelor Monotherapy Versus Ticagrelor With Aspirin on Major Bleeding and Cardiovascular Events: A Post Hoc Analysis of the TICO Randomized Trial

Background

We aimed to evaluate the age‐dependent effect of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month dual‐antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT on major bleeding and cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods and Results

From the TICO trial (Ticagrelor Monotherapy After 3 Months in the Patients Treated With New Generation Sirolimus‐eluting Stent for Acute Coronary Syndrome), which randomized 3056 patients (median age, 61 years) to the ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT group or ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT group, this post hoc analysis evaluated the age‐dependent effect of the treatment strategies on the primary end point (a composite of major bleeding, death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, or target‐vessel revascularization) using the subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot. The cutoff age for distinguishing patients with greater benefit from this strategy was also determined. The risk reduction effect of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT versus ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT on the primary end point gradually increased with age and was more marked from the subpopulation of age 64 years with the change point. With this cutoff value of 64 years, the occurrence of the primary end point was significantly lower in the ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT group than in the ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT group (4.4% versus 9.0%; P=0.002) in patients aged ≥64 years (n=1278), but it was not different in those aged <64 years (n=1778) with a significant interaction (P‐interaction=0.036).

Conclusions

The age‐dependent increase in the benefit of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3‐month DAPT versus ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT was observed in the patients with acute coronary syndrome. In elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome, ticagrelor monotherapy after short‐term DAPT might be more optimal than ticagrelor‐based 12‐month DAPT.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Outcomes Based on Decision-Making Capacity

Background

Long‐term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) based on patients’ decision‐making ability have not been studied. Our objective was to assess long‐term outcomes after PCI in patients who provided individual versus surrogate consent.

Methods and Results

Data were collected retrospectively for patients who underwent PCI at Cleveland Clinic between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016. Inclusion criteria consisted of hospitalized patients aged ≥20 years who had PCI. Patients with outpatient PCI, or major surgery 30 days before or 90 days after PCI, were excluded. Patients who underwent PCI with surrogate consent versus individual consent were matched using the propensity analysis. Kaplan–Meier, log rank, t‐statistic, and χ² tests were used for statistical analysis. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. Of 3136 patients who underwent PCI during the study period, 183 had surrogate consent. Propensity matching yielded 149 patients from each group. Two‐year all‐cause mortality was significantly higher in the surrogate consent group (38 [25.5%] versus 16 [10.7%] deaths, log‐rank χ²=10.16, P<0.001). The 2‐year major adverse cardiac events rate was also significantly higher in the surrogate consent group (60 versus 36 events, log‐rank χ²=8.36, P=0.003).

Conclusions

Patients with surrogate consent had significantly higher all‐cause mortality and higher major adverse cardiac events when compared with patients with individual consent. This study emphasizes the fact that patients with an inability to give consent are at high risk and may need special attention in postprocedural and postdischarge care.

Implications of the Landmark ISCHEMIA Trial on the Initial Management of High-Risk Patients with Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

In the decades following the advent of percutaneous coronary intervention, the optimal treatment strategy for managing stable ischemic heart disease has remained a topic of debate. The purpose of this review is to discuss current literature that provides insight into preferred treatment strategies for managing stable coronary artery disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

The COURAGE trial (2007) compared patients with stable coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention plus optimal medical therapy versus optimal medical therapy alone and found no difference in death from any cause and non-fatal myocardial infarction at 4.6 years. The more recent ISCHEMIA trial (2020) compared an initial invasive revascularization strategy with optimal medical therapy to optimal medical therapy alone and similarly found no difference in death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or resuscitated cardiac arrest at 5 years. When applied to a broad population with stable coronary artery disease, evidence suggests there is no benefit to an initial invasive revascularization strategy relative to optimal medical therapy alone. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether there are subgroups of individuals that may benefit from earlier revascularization.

Comparison of the prognostic value of SYNTAX score and clinical SYNTAX score on outcomes of Chinese patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Previous studies have validated the capability of SYNTAX score (SS) and clinical SYNTAX score (CSS) in the prediction of clinical outcomes in patients who have undergone PCI; however, studies on comparison of these two scoring systems in Chinese population have been sparse.

Methods

To study the ability of SS and CSS in prediction of clinical outcomes of Chinese patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We retrospectively calculated SS and CSS for 547 Chinese patients from a single center who underwent PCI. Patients were stratified into tertiles according to their SS and CSS. We compared the 2-year clinical outcomes in these patients stratified separately by SS and CSS tertiles.

Results

The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebro-vascular events (MACCE) was the highest in patients with SS_HIGH (13.5%), comparing to 6.8% in SS_MED and 0% in SS_LOW (p < 0.0001). The Cox multivariable analysis showed that the SS and CSS were both strong independent predictors for MACCE [1.100 (1.069–1.133), 1.017 (1.010–1.025), both p < 0.0001]. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed the areas-under-the-curves for all-cause death by CSS was slightly larger comparing to SS but not significantly (AUC SS, 0.64; AUC CSS, 0.71; p = 0.23).

Conclusion

We concluded that both the SS and CSS were capable of risk stratification of clinical outcomes in all-comers population as well as in low and moderate risk Chinese patients undergoing PCI with CSS showing slightly better advantage.

Potent P2Y12 inhibitors versus Clopidogrel in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Potent P2Y12 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events but increase bleeding in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Elderly patients are at increased risk of bleeding and whether the benefit-risk ratio of potent P2Y12 inhibitors remains favorable is not known.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy and safety of potent P2Y12 inhibitors versus clopidogrel in elderly patients with ACS.

METHODS

PUBMED and EMBASE were searched through July 2020 for randomized control trials (RCTs) or subgroup analyses of RCTs investigating potent P2Y12 inhibitors (prasugrel or ticagrelor) or clopidogrel in elderly (age ≥ 65 years) patients with ACS. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

RESULTS

Our search identified 9 RCTs with a total of 10,792 elderly patients. When compared with clopidogrel, potent P2Y12 inhibitors had similar risk of MACE (hazard ratio (HR): 0.94; 95%; confidence interval (CI) [0.85-1.06], P = .31, I² = 9%), all-cause mortality (HR: 0.89; 95% CI [0.74-1.07], P = .22, I² = 29%), reduced the risk of cardiovascular death (HR: 0.82; 95% CI [0.68-0.98], P = .03, I² = 16%) but increased the risk of major bleeding (HR: 1.27; 95% CI [1.04-1.56], P = .02, I² = 0%). In a subgroup analysis, ticagrelor reduced all-cause mortality (HR: 0.73; 95% CI [0.55-0.98]) and cardiovascular death (HR: 0.70; 95% CI [0.54-0.90]) compared with clopidogrel.

CONCLUSIONS

Among elderly patients with ACS, potent P2Y12 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular death but increase bleeding with no difference in MACE or all-cause death when compared with clopidogrel. Further RCTs are needed to refine P2Y12 inhibitor selection for elderly patients with ACS.

Relief of Ischemia in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Ischemic heart disease is among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In its stable manifestation, obstructing coronary artery stenoses prevent myocardial blood flow from matching metabolic needs of the heart under exercise conditions, which manifests clinically as dyspnea or chest pain. Prolonged bouts of ischemia may result in permanent myocardial dysfunction, heart failure, and eventually reduced survival. The aim of the present work is to review currently available approaches to provide relief of ischemia in stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

RECENT FINDINGS

Several pharmacological and interventional approaches have proven effectiveness in reducing the burden of ischemia in stable CAD and allow for symptom control and quality of life improvement. However, substantial evidence in favor of improved survival with ischemia relief is lacking, and recently published randomized controlled trial suggests that only selected groups of patients may substantially benefit from this approach. Pharmacological treatments aimed at reducing ischemia were shown to significantly reduce ischemic symptoms but failed to provide prognostic benefit. Myocardial revascularization is able to re-establish adequate coronary artery flow and was shown to improve survival in selected groups of patients, i.e., those with significant left main CAD or severe left ventricular dysfunction in multivessel CAD. Outside the previously mentioned categories, revascularization appears to improve symptoms control over medical therapy, but does not confer prognostic advantage. More studies are needed to elucidate the role of systematic invasive functional testing to identify individuals more likely to benefit from revascularization and to evaluate the prognostic role of chronic total occlusion recanalization.

Outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

This study aimed to compare outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) in the elderly (≥75 years) versus nonelderly and assess the impact of successful CTO‐PCI in the elderly.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to October 1, 2020. Mortality rates and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared between elderly and nonelderly patients and successful versus failed CTO‐PCI in the elderly.

Results

Eight studies were included. Meta‐analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in the risk of in‐hospital mortality (RR: 1.97 95% CI: 0.78, 4.96 I² = 0% p = .15) but higher tendency of in‐hospital MACE (RR: 2.30 95% CI: 0.99, 5.35 I² = 49% p = .05) in the elderly group. Risk of long‐term mortality (RR: 3.79 95% CI: 2.84, 5.04 I² = 41% p < .00001) and long‐term MACE (RR: 1.53 95% CI: 1.14, 2.04 I² = 80% p = .004) were significantly increased in the elderly versus nonelderly. Elderly patients had a significantly reduced odds of successful PCI as compared to nonelderly patients (OR: 0.63 95% CI: 0.54, 0.73 I² = 1% p < .00001). Successful CTO‐PCI was associated with reduction in long‐term mortality (HR: 0.51 95% CI: 0.34, 0.77 I² = 27% p = .001) and MACE (HR: 0.60 95% CI: 0.37, 0.97 I² = 53% p = .04) as compared to failed PCI in elderly.

Conclusions

Elderly patients may have a tendency of higher in‐hospital MACE with significantly increased long‐term mortality and MACE after CTO‐PCI. The success of PCI is significantly lower in the elderly. In elderly patients with successful PCI, the risk of long‐term mortality and MACE is significantly reduced.

Mechanical thrombectomy in stroke in nonagenarians: useful or futile?

BACKGROUND

Mechanical thrombectomy is the standard treatment in acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion, but there is limited evidence about its efficacy in very old patients. We sought to analyse safety and effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy in nonagenarian versus octagenarian patients.

METHODS

We included consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion subjected to mechanical thrombectomy, during 29 months in a tertiary center. Patients were divided into two sub-groups, according to age: 80-89 and >90 years old. Recanalization, complications, functional outcome and mortality at discharge and at 3 months were compared. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of functional outcome at 3 months of follow-up, assessed by the modified Rankin Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 128 octogenarians (88.9%) and 16 nonagenarians (11.1%) met the inclusion criteria. Successful revascularization was achieved in 87.5% of octagenarians and in 81.3% of nonagenarians (p = 0.486). Symptomatic hemorrhage occurred in 3.1% and 6.3% of younger and older patients, respectively (p = 0.520). Cerebral edema occured in 35.2% of octagenarians versus 25.0% of nonagenarians (p = 0.419). Functional independence (mRS ≤ 2) at 3 months was achieved in 28 (22.6%) and 5 (31.3%) of octagenarians and nonagenarians, respectively (p = 0.445). Mortality at 3 months was not significantly higher in nonagenarians (37.5%) versus octagenarians (33.9%, p = 0.773).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant diferences were found in functional outcome, mortality, recanalization and complication rates between octagenarians and nonagenarians submitted to mechanical thrombectomy, underlining that patients should not be excluded from mechanical thrombectomy based on age alone.

Post-Infectious Myocardial Infarction: Does Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Improve Outcomes? A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Acute infection is a frequent trigger of myocardial infarction (MI). However, whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves post-infectious MI prognosis is a major but unsolved issue. In this prospective multicenter study from coronary care units, we performed propensity score-matched analysis to compare outcomes in patients with and without PCI for post-infectious MI with angiography-proven significant coronary stenosis (>50%). Among 4573 consecutive MI patients, 476 patients (10%) had a concurrent diagnosis of acute infection at admission, of whom 375 underwent coronary angiography and 321 patients had significant stenosis. Among the 321 patients, 195 underwent PCI. Before the matching procedure, patients without PCI had a similar age and sex ratio but a higher rate of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal failure, and prior coronary artery disease), pneumonia, and SYNTAX score than patients without PCI. After propensity score matching, neither in-hospital mortality (13% with PCI vs. 8% without PCI; p = 0.4) nor one-year mortality (24% with PCI vs. 19% without PCI, p = 0.5) significantly differed between the two groups. In this first prospective cohort of post-infectious MI in coronary care units, PCI might not improve short- and long-term prognosis in patients with angiography-proven significant coronary stenosis. If confirmed, these results do not argue for systematic invasive procedures after post-infectious MI.

In-hospital mortality of acute coronary syndrome in elderly patients

OBJECTIVES

To analyze predictors of death in elderly patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A record-based study carried out between January 2016 and January 2018 at The central province in Saudi Arabia. All elderly patients (greater than 75 years) with definite diagnosis of ACS were retrospectively included. Demographic data, echocardiographic, and angiographic parameters were reported.  Results: A total of 179 patients were enrolled, 129 (72%) were male. The mean age was 79±4.7 years. Approximately 102 (57%) patients were diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Of all 125 (70%) underwent invasive coronary angiography, we found that 43 (24%) had significant single vessel disease (1VD), 29 (16.2%) had 2 vessel disease (2VD), and 41 (22.9%) had 3 vessel disease (3VD) or left main stenosis. During hospitalization 21 (11.7%) patients died, t-test analysis showed patients who died were significantly older (82±6.7 versus [vs.] 79±4.2 years, p=0.003). In addition  we found that ejection fraction was lower in death group (30.2%±10.7) vs. (36.5%±1.1) in survivors, p=0.017); STEMI  was more common in death group (90.5%) vs. (52.5%) in survivors, p=0.001); similarly,  the  prevalence of 3VD was higher  in death group (38.1%) vs. (20.9%) in survivors, p=0.018). Importantly, PCI was not significantly different between death and survival groups (40% vs. 53.8%, p=0.177). A multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that predictors of death were: age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.214; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.122-1.384; p less than 0.0001), intubation (HR, 10.106; 95% CI, 9.844-10.792; p less than 0.0001), and raised creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) (HR, 1.005; 95% CI, 1.002-1.013; p=0.04) predicted in hospital death.  Conclusion: Older age, mechanical ventilation and raised CK-MB can significantly predict death in elderly patients (greater than 75-year-old) diagnosed with ACS; nevertheless, PCI showed no survival benefits.

The OPTIMIZE randomized trial to assess safety and efficacy of the Svelte IDS and RX Sirolimus-eluting coronary stent Systems for the Treatment of atherosclerotic lesions: Trial design and rationale

Coronary stenting without angioplasty pretreatment (direct stenting) may simplify procedures in appropriate lesions. Direct stenting is facilitated by smaller profile coronary stent platforms. The present study was designed for regulatory approval of a novel drug-eluting coronary stent and incorporates both randomized comparison for non-inferiority to an approved predicate device as well as a nested evaluation of subjects eligible for direct stenting. STUDY DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES: Prospective, single-blind, randomized, active-control, multi-center study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the novel Svelte sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) systems. A total of 1630 subjects with up to 3 target lesions will be randomized 1:1 to the Svelte SES versus either the Xience or Promus everolimus-eluting stents (control). Randomization will be stratified by whether or not a direct stenting strategy is planned by the investigator. The primary endpoint is target lesion failure (TLF) at 12 months post index procedure, defined as cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target lesion revascularization, and the primary analysis is a non-inferiority test with a non-inferiority margin of 3.58%. Secondary clinical endpoints include individual components of TLF, stent thrombosis and measures of procedural resource utilization including contrast administration, fluoroscopy exposure and procedural resource utilization as well as costs. CONCLUSION: The OPTMIZE Trial will evaluate the safety, efficacy and clinical value of the novel Svelte SES in subjects with up to 3 lesions, and will provide a comparison of direct stenting between randomized devices.

Defining high bleeding risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a consensus document from the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk

Identification and management of patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are of major importance, but a lack of standardization in defining this population limits trial design, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making. The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) is a collaboration among leading research organizations, regulatory authorities, and physician-scientists from the United States, Asia, and Europe focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention-related bleeding. Two meetings of the 31-member consortium were held in Washington, DC, in April 2018 and in Paris, France, in October 2018. These meetings were organized by the Cardiovascular European Research Center on behalf of the ARC-HBR group and included representatives of the US Food and Drug Administration and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, as well as observers from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. A consensus definition of patients at high bleeding risk was developed that was based on review of the available evidence. The definition is intended to provide consistency in defining this population for clinical trials and to complement clinical decision-making and regulatory review. The proposed ARC-HBR consensus document represents the first pragmatic approach to a consistent definition of high bleeding risk in clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of devices and drug regimens for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Defining High Bleeding Risk in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Identification and management of patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention are of major importance, but a lack of standardization in defining this population limits trial design, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making. The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) is a collaboration among leading research organizations, regulatory authorities, and physician-scientists from the United States, Asia, and Europe focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention-related bleeding. Two meetings of the 31-member consortium were held in Washington, DC, in April 2018 and in Paris, France, in October 2018. These meetings were organized by the Cardiovascular European Research Center on behalf of the ARC-HBR group and included representatives of the US Food and Drug Administration and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, as well as observers from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. A consensus definition of patients at high bleeding risk was developed that was based on review of the available evidence. The definition is intended to provide consistency in defining this population for clinical trials and to complement clinical decision-making and regulatory review. The proposed ARC-HBR consensus document represents the first pragmatic approach to a consistent definition of high bleeding risk in clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of devices and drug regimens for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

A Propensity Score Matching Analysis of Transradial Versus Transfemoral Approaches in Octogenarians Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background

Despite the widespread adoption of the transradial approach for elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in clinical practice, data on octogenarians in China are still relatively limited. This study sought to compare both the safety and efficacy of transradial intervention (TRI) and transfemoral intervention (TFI) in octogenarians in China.

Methods

We identified 254 octogenarians who underwent PCIs in Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China between January 1, 2006 and April 30, 2011. TRI was used in 184 patients and TFI was used in 70 patients. Incidence rates of in- hospital and 1-year clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Ono-to-one propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control for potential bias. A total of 48 pairs were matched.

Results

Baseline and procedural characteristics were balanced between the TRI and TFI groups. Patients undergoing TRI had significantly fewer access site complications (10.3% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.040), although this difference did not remain significant in propensity score-matched patients (10.4% vs. 22.9%, p = 0.100). After PSM, the patients undergoing TRI were less likely to have major post-PCI bleeding (0 vs. 12.5%, odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.37-0.58, p = 0.026). There were no statistical differences in the incidence rates of major adverse cardiac events (a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) and their components both during hospitalization and at 1-year.

Conclusions

Compared with TFI, TRI was safer and more feasible for octogenarians undergoing PCI.

Frailty score for elderly patients is associated with short-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVE

Consistent with the aging population in the Western world, there is a growing number of elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the recommended reperfusion strategy in elderly patients; risk models to determine which of these patients are prone to have poor clinical outcomes are, however, essential. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between frailty and short-term mortality and PCI-related serious adverse events (SAE) in elderly patients.

METHODS

All STEMI patients (aged ≥70 years) treated with primary PCI in 2013-2015 at the Leiden University Medical Centre were assessed. The Safety Management Programme (VMS) score was used to identify frail elderly patients. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality; the secondary endpoint included 30-day clinical death, target vessel failure, major bleeding, contrast induced kidney insufficiency and stroke.

RESULTS

A total of 206 patients were included (79 ± 6.4 years, 119 [58%] male). The VMS score was ≥1 in 28% of all cases. Primary and secondary endpoint rates were 5 and 23% respectively. VMS score ≥1 was an independent predictor for both 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] 9.6 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.6-56.9] p-value = 0.013) and 30-day SAE (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.1-7.9] p-value = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

VMS score for frailty is independently associated with short-term mortality and PCI-related SAE in elderly patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI. These results suggest that frailty in elderly patients is an important feature to measure and to be taken into account when developing risk models.

Up to 15-Year Survival of Men and Women after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Paid by the Brazilian Public Healthcare System in the State of Rio de Janeiro, 1999-2010

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most frequently used invasive therapy for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Studies able to provide information about PCI's effectiveness should be conducted in a population of real-world patients.

Objectives

To assess the survival rate of IHD patients treated with PCI in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ).

Methods

Administrative (1999-2010) and death (1999-2014) databases of dwellers aged ≥ 20 years old in the state of RJ submitted to one single PCI paid by the Brazilian public healthcare system (SUS) between 1999 and 2010 were linked. Patients were grouped as follows: 20-49 years old, 50-69 years old and ≥ 70 years old, and PCI in primary PCI, with stent and without stent placement (bare metal stent). Survival probabilities in 30 days, one year and 15 years were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox hazards regression models were used to compare risks among sex, age groups and types of PCI. Test results with a p-value < 0.05 were deemed statistically significant.

Results

Data of 19,263 patients (61 ± 11 years old, 63.6% men) were analyzed. Survival rates of men vs. women in 30 days, one year and 15 years were: 97.3% (97.0-97.6%) vs. 97.1% (96.6-97.4%), 93.6% (93.2-94.1%) vs. 93.4% (92.8-94.0%), and 55.7% (54.0-57.4%) vs. 58.1% (55.8-60.3%), respectively. The oldest age group was associated with lower survival rates in all periods. PCI with stent placement had higher survival rates than those without stent placement during a two-year follow-up. After that, both procedures had similar survival rates (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82-1.00).

Conclusions

In a population of real-world patients, women had a higher survival rate than men within 15 years after PCI. Moreover, using a bare-metal stent failed to improve survival rates after a two-year follow-up compared to simple balloon angioplasty.

Prognostic Value of SYNTAX Score II in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes Referred for Invasive Management: A Subanalysis from the SPUM and COMFORTABLE AMI Cohorts

Aims

To assess the incremental prognostic value of SYNTAX score II (SxSII) as compared to anatomical SYNTAX Score (SxS) and GRACE risk score in patients with acute coronary syndromes who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and results

SxSII and SxS were determined in 734 ACS patients. Patients were enrolled in the prospective Special Program University Medicine ACS and the COMFORTABLE AMI cohorts and later on stratified according to tertiles of SxSII (SxSII_Low ≤21.5 (n=245), SxSII_Mid 21.5–30.6 (n=245), and SxSII_High ≥30.6 (n=244). The primary endpoint of adjudicated all-cause mortality and secondary endpoints of MACE (cardiac death, repeat revascularization, and myocardial infarction) and MACCE (all-cause mortality, cerebrovascular events, MI, and repeat revascularization) were determined at 1-year follow-up. SxSII provided incremental predictive information for risk stratification when compared to SxS and GRACE risk score (AUC 0.804, 95% CI 0.77–0.84, p < 0.001 versus 0.67, 95% CI 0.63–0.72, p=0.007 versus 0.69, 95% CI 0.6–0.8, p=0.002), respectively. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, we found that unlike SxS (adjusted HR 1.013, 95% CI (0.96–1.07), p=0.654), SxSII was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR = 1.095, 95% CI (1.06–1.11), p < 0.001). This was also true for the prediction of both secondary outcomes MACE (n=60) and MACCE (n=70) with an adjusted HR = 1.055, 95% CI (1.03–1.08), p < 0.001, and HR = 1.065, 95% CI (1.04–1.09), p < 0.001.

Conclusion

In patients with ACS who underwent PCI, SxSII is an independent predictor of mortality during 1-year follow-up. SxSII shows superiority in discriminating risk compared to conventional SxS and GRACE for all-cause mortality.

Management of stable angina pectoris in private healthcare settings in South Africa

Aim

Angina pectoris continues to affect multitudes of people around the world. In this study the management of stable angina pectoris in private healthcare settings in South Africa (SA) was investigated. In particular, we reviewed the frequency of medical versus surgical interventions when used as first-line therapy.

Methods

This was a retrospective inferential study carried out using records of patients in private healthcare settings. All cases that were authorised for reimbursement by medical aid schemes for revascularisation between 2009 and 2014 were retrieved and a database was created. Data were analysed using MicrosoftR Excel and GraphPad PrismR version 5. The differences (where applicable) were considered statistically significant if the p-value was ≤ 0.05.

Results

Nine hundred and twenty-two patients, consisting of 585 males (average age 64.7 years; SD 12.9) and 337 females (average age 65.5 years; SD 14.3), met the inclusion criteria. One hundred and seventy-eighty or 54%, 156 (43%) and 86 (63%) patients with hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, respectively, were treated with surgery only. For these patients, percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) were significantly (p < 0.0001) preferred first-line interventions over optimal medical therapy (OMT). Four hundred and thirty-six or 47% of all patients studied were managed with surgery only, while only 25% (227) were managed with OMT. It took 60 months (five years) for patients who were treated with OMT before their first surgical intervention(s) to require the second revascularisation. About 71% of patients who received medical therapy were placed on only one drug, the so called sub-optimal medical therapy (SOMT).

Conclusion

The management of stable angina pectoris in private healthcare settings in SA is skewed towards surgical interventions as opposed to OMT. This is contrary to what consistent scientific evidence and international treatment guidelines suggest.

Treatment of Angina: Where Are We?

Ischaemic heart disease is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, while angina represents its most common symptom. It is estimated that approximately 9 million patients in the USA suffer from angina and its treatment is challenging, thus the strategy to improve the management of chronic stable angina is a priority. Angina might be the result of different pathologies, ranging from the “classical” obstruction of a large coronary artery to alteration of the microcirculation or coronary artery spasm. Current clinical guidelines recommend antianginal therapy to control symptoms, before considering coronary artery revascularization. In the current guidelines, drugs are classified as being first-choice (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and short-acting nitrates) or second-choice (ivabradine, nicorandil, ranolazine, trimetazidine) treatment, with the recommendation to reserve second-line modifications for patients who have contraindications to first-choice agents, do not tolerate them, or remain symptomatic. However, such a categorical approach is currently questioned. In addition, current guidelines provide few suggestions to guide the choice of drugs more suitable according to the underlying pathology or the patient comorbidities. Several other questions have recently emerged, such as: is there evidence-based data between first- and second-line treatments in terms of prognosis or symptom relief? Actually, it seems that newer antianginal drugs, which are classified as second choice, have more evidence-based clinical data that are more contemporary to support their use than what is available for the first-choice drugs. It follows that actual guidelines are based more on tradition than on evidence and there is a need for new algorithms that are more individualized to patients, their comorbidities, and pathophysiological mechanism of chronic stable angina.

Bleeding outcomes after non-emergency percutaneous coronary intervention in the very elderly

Background

Octogenarians constitute an increasing proportion of patients presenting for non-emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

This study evaluated the in-hospital procedural characteristics and outcomes, including the bleeding events of 293 octogenarians presenting between January 2010 and December 2012 for non-emergency PCI to a single large volume tertiary care Australian center. Comparisons were made with 293 consecutive patients aged less than or equal to 60 years, whose lesions were matched with the octogenarians.

Results

Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction was the most frequent indication for non-emergency PCI in octogenarians. Compared to the younger cohort, they had a higher prevalence of co-morbidities and more complex coronary disease, comprising more type C and calcified lesions. Peri-procedural use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH; 1.0% vs. 5.8%; P < 0.001) and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (2.1% vs. 9.6%; P < 0.001) was lower, while femoral arterial access was used more commonly than in younger patients (80.9% vs. 67.6%; P < 0.001). Overall, there was a non-significant trend towards higher incidence of all bleeding events in the elderly (9.2% vs. 5.8%; P = 0.12). There was no significant difference in access site or non-access site bleeding and major or minor bleeding between the two cohorts. Sub-analysis did not reveal any significant influence on bleeding rates by the use of LMWH, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors or femoral arterial access. In addition, there were no significant differences in the rates of in-hospital mortality, stroke or acute stent thrombosis between the two groups.

Conclusions

In this single center study, we did not observe significant increases in adverse in-hospital outcomes including the incidence of bleeding in octogenarians undergoing non-emergency PCI.

In-Hospital Clinical Outcomes and Procedural Complications of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Elderly Patients

Background

As population growth leads to an increase in the number of the elderly with coronary artery disease, an evaluation of the clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the elderly patients seems to be essential.

Methods

A prospective, observational cohort study was performed on 468 patients in two groups of elderly and non-elderly patients (mean age: 60.01 ± 10.84 years; ≥ 70 years, 20.1%; men, 62%) who underwent PCI, to evaluate the procedural success and in-hospital major and minor adverse cardiovascular events in the elderly patients.

Results

The procedural success rate was significantly lower (95.7% vs. 99.5%, P = 0.017) and the rates of in-hospital complications were significantly higher (10.6% vs. 0.8%, P < 0.0001) in elderly (+70) than in non-elderly patients. On the basis of a multivariate analysis, being elderly was not an independent predictor of procedural failure, but increased the chance of in-hospital complications to 8% higher (odds ratio: 0.08; 95% confidence interval: 0.01 - 0.39; P = 0.002).

Conclusion

Regardless of the difference in the procedural success and in-hospital complication rates between our two study groups, aging is not an important predictor of them. Furthermore, PCI should not be refused in elderly patients if indicated.

Prognostic value of the age, creatinine, and ejection fraction score for non-infarct-related chronic total occlusion revascularization after primary percutaneous intervention in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

It is not known if ACEF scores could evaluate the prognosis of recanalization of non-infarct-related coronary arteries (non-IRA) with chronic total occlusions (CTO) in patients who successfully underwent primary PCI. The objective of the current study was to assess the prognostic value of ACEF scores in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with non-IRA CTO after successful primary PCI.

METHODS

There were 2952 STEMI patients who underwent successful primary PCI from January 2006 to December 2014 in our hospital, among them 377 patients had a non-IRA CTO lesion. The patients were divided into successful CTO-PCI group (n = 221) and failed/non-attempted CTO-PCI group (n = 156). Patients were stratified based on the ACEF tertiles. Primary end points measured in the current study were major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven coronary revascularization and hospitalization for heart failure at 1 year.

RESULTS

The incidence of MACE, all-cause death and cardiac death were higher in the failed/non-attempted CTO-PCI group (P < 0.001). In the successful CTO-PCI group, the cumulative 1-year incidences of MACE and all-cause death were decreased compared to those in the failed/non-attempted CTO-PCI group (log-rank P < 0.001). The risk for MACE was reduced in the successful CTO-PCI group compared to the failed/non-attempted CTO-PCI group in patients with low and intermediate ACEF scores (log-rank P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Successfully staged CTO-PCI could gain advantageous clinical outcomes in those patients with low or intermediate ACEF scores.

Trial of Time: Review of Frailty and Cardiovascular Disease

Frailty has become more frequently recognized as an indicator of predisability. It has been shown to have an association with cardiovascular disease (CVD), just as CVD has an association with frailty, and is a predictor of hospitalization and mortality. The ability to identify this population provides a measure to more accurately assess risk and prognosis which can help the early detection of disease and dictate intervention. This has become even more critical over time with the advent of various therapeutic interventions that are geared toward patients who are poor candidates for aggressive surgical measures, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The American Heart Association has called for a better understanding of frailty as it relates to CVD in the elderly.

Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke in nonagenarians compared with younger patients in a multicenter cohort

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have demonstrated the superiority of endovascular therapy (EVT) for emergent large vessel occlusion.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of EVT in nonagenarians, for whom data are limited.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical and imaging data of all patients who underwent EVT at two stroke centers between January 2012 and August 2014. The 90-day functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score) was compared between younger patients (age 18-89 years; n=175) and nonagenarians (n=18). The relationship between pre-stroke and 90-day post-stroke mRS was analyzed in these two groups. Multivariable analysis of age, recanalization grade, and admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for predicting outcome was performed.

RESULTS

Age ≥90 years was associated with a poor (mRS >2) 90-day outcome relative to those under 90 (89% vs 52%, OR=8, 95% CI 1.7 to 35.0; p=0.0081). Nonagenarians had a higher pre-stroke mRS score (0.77; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.30) than younger patients (0.24; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.35; p=0.005). No difference was observed between nonagenarians and younger patients in the rate of mRS change from pre-stroke to 90 days (p=0.540). On multivariable regression, age (OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.08; p<0.0001), recanalization grade (OR=0.62 95% CI 0.42 to 0.91; p=0.015), and admission NIHSS (OR=1.07 95% CI 1.02 to 1.13; p=0.01) were associated with a poor 90-day outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonagenarians are at a substantially higher risk of a poor 90-day outcome after EVT than younger patients. However, a small subset of nonagenarians may benefit from EVT, particularly if they have a good pre-stroke functional status. Further research is needed to identify factors associated with favorable outcome in this age cohort.

Outcome of 1051 Octogenarian Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Observational Cohort From the London Heart Attack Group

BACKGROUND

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is increasingly common in octogenarians, and optimal management in this cohort is uncertain. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of octogenarians with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed 10 249 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention between 2005 and 2011 at 8 tertiary cardiac centers across London, United Kingdom. The primary end point was all-cause mortality at a median follow-up of 3 years. In total, 1051 patients (10.3%) were octogenarians, with an average age of 84.2 years, and the proportion increased over the study period (P=0.04). In-hospital mortality (7.7% vs 2.4%, P<0.0001) and long-term mortality (51.6% vs 12.8%, P<0.0001) were increased in octogenarians compared with patients aged <80 years, and age was an independent predictor of mortality in a fully adjusted model (hazard ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.07-1.09, P<0.0001). Time-stratified analysis revealed an increasingly elderly and more complex cohort over time. Nonetheless, long-term mortality rates among octogenarians remained static over time, and this may be attributable to improved percutaneous coronary intervention techniques, including significantly higher rates of radial access and lower bleeding complications. Variables associated with bleeding complications were similar between octogenarian and younger cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large registry, octogenarians undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention had a higher rate of complications and mortality compared with a younger population. Over time, octogenarians undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention increased in number, age, and complexity. Nevertheless, in-hospital outcomes were reasonable, and long-term mortality rates were static.

Establishing Cost-Effective Allocation of Proton Therapy for Breast Irradiation

PURPOSE

Cardiac toxicity due to conventional breast radiation therapy (RT) has been extensively reported, and it affects both the life expectancy and quality of life of affected women. Given the favorable oncologic outcomes in most women irradiated for breast cancer, it is increasingly paramount to minimize treatment side effects and improve survivorship for these patients. Proton RT offers promise in limiting heart dose, but the modality is costly and access is limited. Using cost-effectiveness analysis, we provide a decision-making tool to help determine which breast cancer patients may benefit from proton RT referral.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A Markov cohort model was constructed to compare the cost-effectiveness of proton versus photon RT for breast cancer management. The model was analyzed for different strata of women based on age (40 years, 50 years, and 60 years) and the presence or lack of cardiac risk factors (CRFs). Model entrants could have 1 of 3 health states: healthy, alive with coronary heart disease (CHD), or dead. Base-case analysis assumed CHD was managed medically. No difference in tumor control was assumed between arms. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to test model robustness and the influence of including catheterization as a downstream possibility within the health state of CHD.

RESULTS

Proton RT was not cost-effective in women without CRFs or a mean heart dose (MHD) <5 Gy. Base-case analysis noted cost-effectiveness for proton RT in women with ≥1 CRF at an approximate minimum MHD of 6 Gy with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/quality-adjusted life-year. For women with ≥1 CRF, probabilistic sensitivity analysis noted the preference of proton RT for an MHD ≥5 Gy with a similar willingness-to-pay threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the cost of treatment, scenarios do exist whereby proton therapy is cost-effective. Referral for proton therapy may be cost-effective for patients with ≥1 CRF in cases for which photon plans are unable to achieve an MHD <5 Gy.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Is More Beneficial Than Optimal Medical Therapy in Elderly Patients with Angina Pectoris

PURPOSE

Data comparing the clinical benefits of medical treatment with those of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an elderly population with angina pectoris are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of elective PCI versus optimal medical treatment (OMT) in elderly patients (between 75 and 84 years old) with angina pectoris.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred seventy-seven patients with significant coronary artery stenosis were randomly assigned to either the PCI group (n=90) or the OMT group (n=87). The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse events in the 1-year follow-up period that included cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and stroke.

RESULTS

Major adverse events occurred in 5 patients (5.6%) of the PCI group and in 17 patents (19.5%) of the OMT group (p=0.015). There were no significant differences between the PCI group and the OMT group in cardiac death [hazard ratio (HR) for the PCI group 0.454; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.041-5.019, p=0.520], myocardial infarction (HR 0.399; 95% CI 0.039-4.050, p=0.437), or stroke (HR 0.919; 95% CI 0.057-14.709, p=0.952). However, the PCI group showed a significant preventive effect of the composite of major adverse events (HR 0.288; 95% CI 0.106-0.785, p=0.015) and against the need for coronary revascularization (HR 0.157; 95% CI 0.035-0.703, p=0.016).

CONCLUSION

Elective PCI reduced major adverse events and was found to be an effective treatment modality in elderly patients with angina pectoris and significant coronary artery stenosis, compared to OMT.

Usefulness of Circulating Decoy Receptor 3 in Predicting Coronary Artery Disease Severity and Future Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is an antiapoptotic soluble receptor considered to play an important role in immune modulation and has pro-inflammatory functions. This study was designed to test whether circulating DcR3 levels are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and predict future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with CAD. Circulating DcR3 levels and the Syntax score (SXscore) were determined in patients with multivessel CAD. The primary end point was the MACE within 12 months. In total, 152 consecutive patients with angiographically confirmed multivessel CAD who had received percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled and were divided into 3 groups according to CAD lesion severity. Group 1 was defined as low SXscore (≤13), group 2 as intermediate SXscore (>13 and ≤22), and group 3 as high SXscore (>22). DcR3 levels were significantly higher in the high SXscore group than the other 2 groups (13,602 ± 7,256 vs 8,025 ± 7,789 vs 4,637 ± 4,403 pg/ml, p <0.001). By multivariate analysis, circulating DcR3 levels were identified as an independent predictor for high SXscore (adjusted odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 1.21; p <0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that increased circulating DcR3 levels are associated with enhanced 1-year MACE in patients with multivessel CAD (log-rank p <0.001). In conclusion, increased circulating DcR3 levels are associated with CAD severity and predict future MACE in patients with multivessel CAD.

Comparison of transradial and transfemoral coronary intervention in octogenarians with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The transradial (TR) approach for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is challenging and associated with failure in elderly patients. We compared the TR and transfemoral (TF) approaches in patients>80 years with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing PCI.

METHODS

A total of 1945 (7.2%) octogenarians were enrolled from among 27,129 patients in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry. The TR group (n=336, 17.3%) was compared with the TF group (n=1609, 82.7%) in the overall and propensity-matched cohorts with respect to procedural success, complications, in-hospital mortality, and one-year mortality and total major adverse cardiac event (MACE; death, MI, and revascularization) rate.

RESULTS

In the overall cohort, the TR group had lower incidence of Killip class III or IV compared to the TF group. The disease extent and lesion severity were similar between groups, as was the procedural success rate (97.7% vs. 98.3%); however, in-hospital complications were significantly lower in the TR group (8.1% vs. 20.3%). In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the TR group than the TF group (3.4% vs. 11.4%), as were the one-year mortality and total MACE (9.8% vs. 18.4% and 13% vs. 21.9%, respectively). These outcomes were consistent in the propensity-matched cohort. The TR approach was found to be a significant predictor of low in-hospital mortality (OR 0.355, 95% CI 0.139-0.907), but not of one-year mortality (OR 0.644, 95% CI 0.334-1.240).

CONCLUSIONS

In octogenarians with acute MI undergoing PCI, the TR approach was more effective than the TF approach as it had lower complication rate and better clinical outcomes with comparable procedural success.

Revascularization vs. Medical Therapy in Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

The keynote COURAGE and BARI-2D trials changed the way the interventional community selects patients for revascularization. What we now consider appropriate, especially for percutaneous coronary intervention, has narrowed significantly in scope compared to previous practice a decade ago. Medical therapy has been shown to be both safe and effective as a primary treatment modality for patients with stable ischemic heart disease on the whole. However, it appears that patients with a heavy ischemic burden may benefit from revascularization, although investigation of this is ongoing. Evidence preliminarily supports this practice with coronary artery bypass grafting, and possibly in specific populations undergoing multivessel intervention with functional assessment of lesion severity during PCI.

Changes in the Practice of Coronary Revascularization between 2006 and 2010 in the Republic of Korea

PURPOSE

Evidence suggests that technological innovations and reimbursement schemes of the National Health Insurance Service may have impacted the management of coronary artery disease. Thus, we investigated changes in the practice patterns of coronary revascularization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Revascularization and in-hospital mortality among Koreans ≥20 years old were identified from medical claims filed between 2006 and 2010. The age- and sex-standardized procedure rate per 100,000 person-years was calculated directly from the distribution of the 2008 Korean population.

RESULTS

The coronary revascularization rate increased from 116.1 (95% confidence interval, 114.9-117.2) in 2006 to 131.0 (129.9-132.1) in 2010. Compared to the rate ratios in 2006, the rate ratios for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in 2010 were 1.16 (1.15-1.17) and 0.80 (0.76-0.84), respectively. Among patients who received PCI, the percentage with drug-eluting stents increased from 89.1% in 2006 to 93.0% in 2010. In-hospital mortality rates from PCI significantly increased during the study period (p=0.03), whereas those from CABG significantly decreased (p=0.01). The in-hospital mortality rates for PCI and CABG were higher in elderly and female patients and at the lowest-volume hospitals.

CONCLUSION

The annual volume of coronary revascularization continuously increased between 2006 and 2010 in Korea, although this trend differed according to procedure type. A high percentage of drug-eluting stent procedures and a high rate of in-hospital mortality at low-volume hospitals were noted.

Prognostic value of the age, creatinine, and ejection fraction score for 1-year mortality in 30-day survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention after acute myocardial infarction

Few simple and effective tools are available for determining the prognosis of 30-day survivors after acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to assess whether the simple age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) score could predict 1-year mortality of 12,000 post-myocardial infarction 30-day survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. The ACEF score was computed as follows: (age/ejection fraction)+1, if the serum creatinine was >2 mg/dl. Accuracy was defined through receiver-operating characteristics analysis and area under the curve (AUC) evaluation. Twelve risk factors were selected and ranked according to their AUC value. Age, ejection fraction, and serum creatinine levels indicated the best AUC value. The ACEF score was significantly higher in the nonsurvivors (1.95±0.82 vs 1.28±0.50; p<0.001) and was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.26; p<0.001). The best accuracy was achieved by a prediction model including 12 risk factors (AUC=0.80), but this did not significantly differ compared with the AUC (0.79) of the ACEF score (p=ns). Adjusted hazard ratios for 1-year mortality were 1 (reference), 3.11 (p<0.001), and 10.38 (p<0.001) for the ACEFLOW (ACEF score<1.0), ACEFMID (ACEF score 1.0 to 1.39), and ACEFHIGH (ACEF score≥1.4) groups, respectively. The ACEF score may be a novel valid model to stratify the 1-year mortality risk in 30-day survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention after acute myocardial infarction.

An overview of PCI in the very elderly

Cardiovascular disease, and in particular ischemic heart disease (IHD), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the very elderly (> 80 years) worldwide. These patients represent a rapidly growing cohort presenting for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), now constituting more than one in five patients treated with PCI in real-world practice. Furthermore, they often have greater ischemic burden than their younger counterparts, suggesting that they have greater scope of benefit from coronary revascularization therapy. Despite this, the very elderly are frequently under-represented in clinical revascularization trials and historically there has been a degree of physician reluctance in referring them for PCI procedures, with perceptions of disappointing outcomes, low success and high complication rates. Several issues have contributed to this, including the tendency for older patients with IHD to present late, with atypical symptoms or non-diagnostic ECGs, and reservations regarding their procedural risk-to-benefit ratio, due to shorter life expectancy, presence of comorbidities and increased bleeding risk from antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications. However, advances in PCI technology and techniques over the past decade have led to better outcomes and lower risk of complications and the existing body of evidence now indicates that the very elderly actually derive more relative benefit from PCI than younger populations. Importantly, this applies to all PCI settings: elective, urgent and emergency. This review discusses the role of PCI in the very elderly presenting with chronic stable IHD, non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, and ST-elevation myocardial infarction. It also addresses the clinical challenges met when considering PCI in this cohort and the ongoing need for research and development to further improve outcomes in these challenging patients.