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

Elevated lipoprotein(a) as a predictor for coronary events in older men

Elevated circulating lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is associated with an increased risk of first and recurrent cardiovascular events; however, the effect of baseline Lp(a) levels on long-term outcomes in an elderly population is not well understood. The current single-center prospective study evaluated the association of Lp(a) levels with incident acute coronary syndrome to identify populations at risk of future events. Lp(a) concentration was assessed in 755 individuals (mean age of 71.9 years) within the community and followed for up to 8 years (median time to event, 4.5 years; interquartile range, 2.5–6.5 years). Participants with clinically relevant high levels of Lp(a) (>50 mg/dl) had an increased absolute incidence rate of ASC of 2.00 (95% CI, 1.0041) over 8 years (P = 0.04). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier cumulative event analyses demonstrated the risk of ASC increased when compared with patients with low (<30 mg/dl) and elevated (30–50 mg/dl) levels of Lp(a) over 8 years (Gray’s test; P = 0.16). Within analyses adjusted for age and BMI, the hazard ratio was 2.04 (95% CI, 1.0–4.2; P = 0.05) in the high versus low Lp(a) groups. Overall, this study adds support for recent guidelines recommending a one-time measurement of Lp(a) levels in cardiovascular risk assessment to identify subpopulations at risk and underscores the potential utility of this marker even among older individuals at a time when potent Lp(a)-lowering agents are undergoing evaluation for clinical use.

Immuno-regenerative biomaterials for in situ cardiovascular tissue engineering - Do patient characteristics warrant precision engineering?

In situ tissue engineering using bioresorbable material implants - or scaffolds - that harness the patient's immune response while guiding neotissue formation at the site of implantation is emerging as a novel therapy to regenerate human tissues. For the cardiovascular system, the use of such implants, like blood vessels and heart valves, is gradually entering the stage of clinical translation. This opens up the question if and to what extent patient characteristics influence tissue outcomes, necessitating the precision engineering of scaffolds to guide patient-specific neo-tissue formation. Because of the current scarcity of human in vivo data, herein we review and evaluate in vitro and preclinical investigations to predict the potential role of patient-specific parameters like sex, age, ethnicity, hemodynamics, and a multifactorial disease profile, with special emphasis on their contribution to the inflammation-driven processes of in situ tissue engineering. We conclude that patient-specific conditions have a strong impact on key aspects of in situ cardiovascular tissue engineering, including inflammation, hemodynamic conditions, scaffold resorption, and tissue remodeling capacity, suggesting that a tailored approach may be required to engineer immuno-regenerative biomaterials for safe and predictive clinical applicability.

Impact of genetic variants on clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients

Elderly patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have a higher risk of both ischemic and bleeding complications than younger patients. However, few studies have reported how genetic information of elderly patients treated with PCI affects clinical outcomes. We investigated the impact of genetic variants on clinical outcomes in elderly patients. Correlations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (CYP2C19 and P2Y12 receptor gene G52T polymorphism) and clinical outcomes were analyzed in 811 elderly patients (≥75 years of age) from a prospective multicenter registry. The primary endpoint was a composite of myocardial infarction and death. Secondary endpoints were an individual event of death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target lesion revascularization, stroke, and major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥3). Regarding CYP2C19, patients with poor metabolizers had a significantly higher risk for the primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR] 2.43; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.12–5.24; p=0.024) and secondary endpoints (death and cardiac death). Regarding P2Y12 G52T, the TT group had a significantly higher occurrence of major bleeding than the other groups (HR 3.87; 95% CI 1.41–10.68; p=0.009). In conclusion, poor metabolizers of CYP2C19 and TT groups of P2Y12 G52T may be significant predictors of poor clinical outcomes in elderly patients.

The impact of age on outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting

OBJECTIVE

As the population ages, increasing number of older patients are undergoing adult cardiac surgery. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of age on postoperative outcomes in patients that undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

Patients that are ≥70 years old who underwent CABG were selected from the Nationwide/National Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2015 using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. The patients who were 70-79 years old were compared to patients aged 80-89 years old to determine if the age difference of the patients had an impact on surgical outcomes. In addition, a secondary endpoint is to compare surgical outcomes between the 2 genders of the patients 80-89 years old. The rates of postoperative complications, and mortality were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 67,568 patients were identified who were ≥ 70 years old and underwent CABG. Compared to the Septuagenarians, the Octogenarians were more likely to develop cardiac complications (OR [odds ratio] =1.20, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.12-1.23. They were also more likely to develop renal complications (P < 0001), and respiratory complications (P < 0001). The Octogenarians were also more likely to bleed postoperatively (P < 0.0001) and have a higher mortality (P < 0001). Furthermore, the female Octogenarians had a higher mortality (OR 1.25 95% CI 1.07-1.46) compared to males in the same age group.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients who were ≥ 80-89 years old had worse postoperative outcomes. The Octogenarians who were females had a higher mortality compared to their male counterparts.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Elderly Patients with Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

The proportion of the elderly in the total population of the world is growing, and the number of elderly patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) is huge. The elderly patients often have more extensive coronary artery disease, more severe ischemic burden and higher risk of cardiovascular events, as compared to younger patients, and thereby they might greatly benefit from coronary revascularization, even though they may have higher risk of operative complications. Most interventional cardiologists are more likely to be reluctant to operate complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients. The latest refinements in dedicated CTO-PCI equipment and techniques have led to high rates of success and low complications rates and have made the CTO-PCI procedures safe and effective among the elderly patients. However, up to now, there is no widely recognized consensus or guideline on treatment strategy of elderly CTO patients, and the prognosis in this population is unknown. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current evidence and future perspectives on PCI in elderly patients with CTOs.

Age-Dependent and -Independent Effects of Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Its Paracrine Activities during Neointima Formation

Cardiovascular risk factors may act by modulating the composition and function of the adventitia. Here we examine how age affects perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and its paracrine activities during neointima formation. Aortic tissue and PVAT or primary aortic smooth muscle cells from male C57BL/6JRj mice aged 52 weeks (“middle-aged”) were compared to tissue or cells from mice aged 16 weeks (“adult”). Vascular injury was induced at the carotid artery using 10% ferric chloride. Carotid arteries from the middle-aged mice exhibited smooth muscle de-differentiation and elevated senescence marker expression, and vascular injury further aggravated media and adventitia thickening. Perivascular transplantation of PVAT had no effect on these parameters, but age-independently reduced neointima formation and lumen stenosis. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed a blunted increase in senescence-associated proinflammatory changes in perivascular tissue compared to visceral adipose tissue and higher expression of mediators attenuating neointima formation. Elevated levels of protein inhibitor of activated STAT1 (PIAS1) and lower expression of STAT1- or NFκB-regulated genes involved in adipocyte differentiation, inflammation, and apoptosis/senescence were present in mouse PVAT, whereas PIAS1 was reduced in the PVAT of patients with atherosclerotic vessel disease. Our findings suggest that age affects adipose tissue and its paracrine vascular activities in a depot-specific manner. PIAS1 may mediate the age-independent vasculoprotective effects of perivascular fat.

Comparison of Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Patients of Eighty Years and Above Compared With Those Less Than 80 Years

Life expectancy in the United States has increased due to advances in health care. Despite increased utilization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), octogenarian patients are less likely to be referred to the catheterization laboratory for coronary interventions. This is in part due to multiple patient co-morbidities and lack of established guidelines. We examined in-hospital clinical outcomes of octogenarian and nonoctogenarian patients who underwent PCI in the United States. Using the National Inpatient Sampling database, we identified all adult patients who are older than 18 years and underwent PCI. Patient were stratified by age into 2 groups, ≥80 years old and <80 years old and in-hospital adverse outcome rates were determined. A total of 11,056,559 patients underwent PCI between the years of 2002 and 2014 and 1,544,563 patients were ≥80 years old (14%). After multivariable adjustment, patients who are ≥80 years old had higher in-hospital mortality (3.3% vs 1.3%, adjusted Odds Ratio, 1.624; 95% confidence interval, 1.602 to 1.647, p <0.0001) and longer length of stay (median length of stay days 3, range 2 to 8 days vs median 2 days, range 1 to 4 days) (p <0.0001). Patients ≥80 years old had a higher rate of cardiopulmonary complications, postprocedural stroke, acute kidney injury, postprocedural thromboembolic complications, and hemorrhage requiring transfusion. There was no difference in vascular complications between the 2 groups. In conclusion, octogenarians who underwent PCI were at increased risk for in-hospital mortality and morbidity compared with nonoctogenarians. The decision to proceed with PCI in this patient population should be individualized, taking into consideration known risk factors and patient's wishes.

Association between body mass index and 1-year outcome after acute myocardial infarction

Objectives

Beneficial effects of overweight and obesity on mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been described as “Body Mass Index (BMI) paradox”. However, the effects of BMI is still on debate. We analyzed the association between BMI and 1-year clinical outcomes after AMI.

Methods

Among 13,104 AMI patients registered in Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health (KAMIR-NIH) between November 2011 and December 2015, 10,568 patients who eligible for this study were classified into 3 groups according to BMI (Group 1; < 22 kg/m², 22 ≤ Group 2 < 26 kg/m², Group 3; ≥ 26 kg/m²). The primary end point was all cause death at 1 year.

Results

Over the median follow-up of 12 months, the event of primary end point occurred more frequently in the Group 1 patients than in the Group 3 patients (primary endpoint: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.537; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.177 to 2.007, p = 0.002). Especially, cardiac death played a major role in this effect (aHR, 1.548; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.128 to 2.124, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Higher BMI appeared to be good prognostic factor on 1-year all cause death after AMI. This result suggests that higher BMI or obesity might confer a protective advantage over the life-quality after AMI.

Survival after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion in elderly patients

AIMS

Few data are available on outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) in very elderly patients in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era. We aimed to investigate long-term survival in a single-centre cohort of elderly patients following CTO PCI using DES.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 2,002 consecutive patients who underwent PCI of a CTO at our centre between January 2005 and December 2013 were followed for a median of 2.6 years (interquartile range 1.1-3.1 years). Four hundred and nine (409) patients were older than 75 years. The absolute reduction in all-cause mortality by successful CTO PCI was numerically greater in elderly patients as compared to younger patients (22.1% vs. 7.2% at three years). In multivariate models, successful CTO PCI was significantly associated with improved survival in both elderly (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39 to 0.87; p=0.009) and younger patients (adjusted HR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.86; p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

In the DES era, elderly patients (≥75 years) derive a similar survival benefit from successful CTO PCI to younger patients. These findings suggest that CTO PCI, when indicated, should not be withheld from the elderly.

Long-term clinical outcome of elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with early percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the BASE ACS randomized controlled trial: Bioactive versus everolimus-eluting stents in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

The BASE ACS trial demonstrated an outcome of titanium-nitride-oxide-coated bioactive stents (BAS) that was non-inferior to everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We performed a post hoc analysis of elderly versus non-elderly patients from the BASE ACS trial.

METHODS

We randomized 827 patients (1:1) presenting with ACS to receive either BAS or EES. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE): a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). Follow-up was planned at 12months and yearly thereafter for up to 7years. Elderly age was defined as ≥65years.

RESULTS

Of the 827 patients enrolled in the BASE ACS trial, 360 (43.5%) were elderly. Mean follow-up duration was 4.2±1.9years. MACE was more frequent in elderly versus younger patients (19.7% versus 12.0%, respectively, p=0.002), probably driven by more frequent cardiac death and non-fatal MI events (5.3% versus 1.5%, and 9.7% versus 4.5%, p=0.002 and p=0.003, respectively). The rates of ischemia-driven TLR were comparable (p>0.05). In propensity score-matched analysis (215 pairs), only cardiac death was more frequent in elderly patients (6% versus 1.4%, respectively, p=0.01). Diabetes independently predicted both MACE and cardiac death in elderly patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients treated with stent implantation for ACS had worse long-term clinical outcome, compared with younger ones, mainly due to a higher death rate.

Staged versus "one-time" multivessel intervention in elderly patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

Objective

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of “one-time” versus staged multivessel stenting in elderly (≥ 60 years) patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and multivessel disease (MVD).

Methods

We analyzed data of consecutive NSTE-ACS patients with multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who were enrolled in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region between 2008 and 2012. A total of 1090 eligible patients aged ≥ 60 were further categorized into “one-time” group (n = 623) and staged PCI group (n = 467) according to intervention strategy. The primary endpoint was composite outcome of myocardial infarction (MI) or cardiac death during 3-year follow-up.

Results

The estimated 3-year composite rate of cardiac death or MI was 7.0% in the staged PCI group and 9.5% in the “one-time” group (P = 0.110). Multivariate analysis confirmed the benefit of staged PCI on the primary events in the elderly (HR: 0.638, 95% CI: 0.408–0.998, P = 0.049). In a propensity score matched cohort, staged PCI was associated with lower rates of primary events (6.1% vs. 10.4%, P = 0.046) and MI (3.4% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.037) at three years. In addition, there were reduced trends in the stent thrombosis at 30 days (0.3% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.177) and at three years (1.1% vs. 2.4%, P = 0.199) in the staged PCI group. There was no significant difference in the 3-year target vessel revascularization (15.5% vs. 14.4%, P = 0.746).

Conclusions

In elderly NSTE-ACS patients with MVD, staged PCI might be an optimal strategy associated with reduced long-term cardiac death or MI compared with “one-time” PCI strategy, which needs further confirmation.

Comparing mortality between coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents in elderly with diabetes and multivessel coronary disease

Coronary artery disease is a critical issue that requires physicians to consider appropriate treatment strategies, especially for elderly people who tend to have several comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (DM) and multivessel disease (MVD). Several studies have been conducted comparing clinical outcomes between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in patients with DM and MVD. However, elderly people were excluded in those clinical studies. Therefore, there are no comparisons of clinical outcomes between CABG and PCI in elderly patients with DM and MVD. We compared all-cause mortality between PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES) and CABG in elderly patients with DM and MVD. A total of 483 (PCI; n = 256, CABG; n = 227) patients were analyzed. The median follow-up period was 1356 days (interquartile range of 810-1884). The all-cause mortality rate was not significantly different between CABG and PCI with DES groups. The CABG group had more patients with complex coronary lesions such as three-vessel disease or a left main trunk lesion. Older age, hemodialysis, and reduced LVEF were associated with increased long-term all-cause mortality in a multivariable Cox regression analysis. The rate of all-cause mortality was not significantly different between the PCI and CABG groups in elderly patients with DM and MVD in a single-center study.

Impact of Age on Stent Strut Coverage and Neointimal Remodeling as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography

While older age associates with adverse percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes, detailed information relating age to stent strut coverage and neointimal characteristics is lacking. One hundred nineteen patients with 123 sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) were divided into 3 groups: group A (≤55 years), group B (56-65 years), and group C (>65 years). At 6 and 12 months of follow-up, optical coherence tomography was performed to assess strut coverage and neointimal remodeling. At 6 months, the proportion of uncovered struts increased with age: 6.1% in group A versus 7.3% in group B versus 11.7% in group C (P < 0.001) while the proportion of embedded struts decreased: 72.1% versus 57.0% vs. 55.0%, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean neointimal thicknesses were 90  μm versus 60  μm versus 60  μm, respectively (P < 0.001), and neointimal areas were 0.82  mm2 versus 0.52  mm2 versus 0.57  mm2 (P < 0.001). At 12 months, the proportion of uncovered struts increased with age (3.9% vs. 3.3% vs. 4.9 %; P < 0.001), while mean neointimal thicknesses were 100 versus 70 versus 80  μm (P < 0.001) and neointimal areas were 0.87 versus 0.60 versus 0.67  mm2 (P < 0.001). Patients ≤55 years receiving SES showed highest strut coverage and neointimal repair rate compared with the other 2 groups. A "catch-up phenomenon" appeared to occur in the oldest patients, as in the first 6 months the neointima showed lowest endothelial cell coverage and lowest neointimal proliferation rate, whereas from 6 to 12 months, the highest neointimal proliferation rate was seen in the oldest patients.

Role of Intravascular Ultrasound in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Rupture of a vulnerable plaque and subsequent thrombus formation are important mechanisms leading to the development of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Typical intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) features of AMI include plaque rupture, thrombus, positive remodeling, attenuated plaque, spotty calcification, and thin-cap fibroatheroma. No-reflow phenomenon was attributable to the embolization of thrombus and plaque debris that results from mechanical fragmentation of the vulnerable plaque by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Several grayscale IVUS features including plaque rupture, thrombus, positive remodeling, greater plaque burden, decreased post-PCI plaque volume, and tissue prolapse, and virtual histology-IVUS features such as large necrotic corecontaining lesion and thin-cap fibroatheroma were the independent predictors of no-reflow phenomenon in AMI patients. Non-culprit lesions associated with recurrent events were more likely than those not associated with recurrent events to be characterized by a plaque burden of ≥70%, a minimal luminal area of ≤4.0 mm(2), or to be classified as thin-cap fibroatheromas.

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.

The evolution of cardiovascular surgery in elderly patient: a review of current options and outcomes

Due to the increase in average life expectancy and the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease with advancing age, more elderly patients present for cardiac surgery nowadays. Advances in pre- and postoperative care have led to the possibility that an increasing number of elderly patients can be operated on safely and with a satisfactory outcome. Currently, coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic and mitral valve surgery, and major surgery of the aorta are performed in elderly patients. The data available show that most cardiac surgical procedures can be performed in elderly patients with a satisfactory outcome. Nevertheless, the risk for these patients is only acceptable in the absence of comorbidities. In particular, renal dysfunction, cerebrovascular disease, and poor clinical state are associated with a worse outcome in elderly patients. Careful patient selection, flawless surgery, meticulous hemostasis, perfect anesthesia, and adequate myocardial protection are basic requirements for the success of cardiac surgery in elderly patients. The care of elderly cardiac surgical patients can be improved only through the strict collaboration of geriatricians, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons, in order to obtain a tailored treatment for each individual patient.

Characteristics, in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes of nonagenarian compared with octogenarian acute myocardial infarction patients

We compared clinical characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of nonagenarian acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients (n=270, 92.3 ± 2.3 yr old) with octogenarian AMI patients (n=2,145, 83.5 ± 2.7 yr old) enrolled in Korean AMI Registry (KAMIR). Nonagenarians were less likely to have hypertension, diabetes and less likely to be prescribed with beta-blockers, statins, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors compared with octogenarians. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was preferred in octogenarians than nonagenarians, the success rate of PCI between the two groups was comparable. In-hospital mortality, the composite of in-hospital adverse outcomes and one year mortality were higher in nonagenarians than in octogenarians. However, the composite of the one year major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) was comparable between the two groups without differences in MI or re-PCI rate. PCI improved 1-yr mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36-0.69, P<0.001) and MACEs (adjusted HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.37-0.61, P<0.001) without significant complications both in nonagenarians and octogenarians. In conclusion, nonagenarians had similar 1-yr MACEs rates despite of higher in-hospital and 1-yr mortality compared with octogenarian AMI patients. PCI in nonagenarian AMI patients was associated to better 1-yr clinical outcomes.

Outcomes of cardiac surgery in the elderly

The elderly represent a rapidly growing and substantially under-treated sector in industrialized countries, with coronary artery disease and degenerative aortic stenosis rampant. The proportion of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery is rising steadily and outcomes continue to improve with the refinement of operative techniques and perioperative care. Advanced risk stratification models, such as the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation now offer validated prediction of operative mortality in these high-risk patients. Current trends towards off-pump coronary artery surgery, hybrid revascularization and mitral repair may have advantages in the elderly, who often have more diffuse cardiovascular disease and a lower tolerance to intervention. Recent advances may also provide surgical options for the emerging epidemics of cardiovascular disease affecting the elderly, atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions between patients aged ≥75 years and those aged <75 years

Few reports are available on the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) in older patients. In the present study, 284 patients who underwent PCI for CTOs were retrospectively evaluated by comparing the characteristics of 67 patients aged ≥75 years (the older group) and 217 patients aged <75 years (the younger group). Technical success was achieved in 77% of the patients in the older group and 79% of those in the younger group (p = 0.66). No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of the incidence of procedural complications. In the older group, a comparison between the patients with successful and failed PCI revealed significantly superior 3-year cardiac survival (97.6% vs 76.9%, p = 0.005). The 3-year cardiac survival of those with successful PCI was similar to that observed in the younger group. On multivariate analysis, successful PCI was found to be associated with a lower incidence of cardiac death in the older group (hazard ratio 0.09, 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.91, p = 0.042). In conclusion, this single-center, observational study suggests that PCI for CTOs can be performed with a high rate of procedural success and acceptably low mortality and morbidity in older patients, resulting in improved cardiac survival. Thus, PCI for CTO lesions should be included among the treatment strategies for older patients.

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

AIMS

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

METHODS AND RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

Comparison of clinical outcomes between octogenarians and non-octogenarians with acute myocardial infarction in the drug-eluting stent era: analysis of the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Octogenarians (age ≥ 80 years) with coronary artery disease constitute a high-risk group. However, octogenarian patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the drug-eluting stents (DES) era have not been widely reported. We aimed to identify clinical outcomes in octogenarian compared with non-octogenarian AMI patients.

METHODS AND SUBJECTS

We retrospectively analyzed 9877 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) and who were enrolled in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR). They were divided into 2 groups, octogenarians (n=1494) and non-octogenarians (n=8383), in order to compare the incidence of 1-year all-cause death and 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE), where MACE included all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR), target lesion revascularization (TLR), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

RESULTS

The clinical status was significantly inferior in octogenarians compared to non-octogenarians: Killip class ≥ II (34.8% vs. 22.5%, p<0.001), multivessel disease (65.8% vs. 53.7%, p<0.001). Rates of 1-year all-cause death were significantly higher in octogenarians than in non-octogenarians (22.3% vs. 6.5%, p<0.001). However, the rates of 1-year recurrent myocardial infarction (1.3% vs. 0.9%, p=0.68), TLR (2.4% vs. 3.1%, p=0.69), TVR (3.6% vs. 4.3%, p=0.96), and CABG (0.9% vs. 0.9%, p=0.76) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Octogenarian AMI patients have higher rates of mortality and MACE even in the DES era. According to KAMIR subgroup analysis, the TLR/TVR rates in octogenarians were comparable to those in non-octogenarian AMI patients.

Impact of aging on the clinical outcomes of Japanese patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

Japan has become an aging society, resulting in an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease. However, clinical outcomes of elderly Japanese patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain unclear. Of the 15,227 patients in the Shinken Database, a single-hospital-based cohort of new patients, 1,214 patients who underwent PCI, was evaluated to determine the differences in clinical outcomes between the elderly (≥75 years) (n = 260) and the non-elderly (<75 years) (n = 954) patients. A major adverse cardiac event (MACE) was defined as a composite end point, including all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization. Male gender and obesity were less common, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower in the elderly than in the non-elderly. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was comparable between these groups. Left main trunk disease and multivessel disease were more common in the elderly than in the non-elderly group. Occurrence of MACE was frequent, and the incidences of all-cause death, cardiac death, and the admission rate for heart failure were significantly higher in the elderly patients. Multivariate analysis showed that prior MI, low eGFR, and poor LVEF were independent predictors for all-cause death in the elderly patients. Elderly patients had worse clinical outcomes than the non-elderly patients. Low eGFR and LVEF were independent predictors of all-cause death after PCI, suggesting that left ventricular dysfunction and renal dysfunction might synergistically contribute to the adverse clinical outcomes of the elderly patients undergoing PCI.

Comparative one-year effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients <75 versus ≥75 years with unprotected left main disease (from the CUSTOMIZE Registry)

There is a lack of knowledge on the interaction between age and left main coronary artery revascularization. The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with left main coronary artery disease aged <75 versus ≥75 years. Of a total of 894 patients included, 692 (77.4%) were aged <75 years and 202 (23.6%) ≥75 years. PCI was found to be significantly different from CABG with respect to the composite of major adverse cardiac events at 1-year follow-up in patients aged <75 years (15.5% vs 8.5%, p = 0.01) but not in those aged ≥75 years (16.4% vs 13.9%, p = 0.65). This finding was consistent after statistical adjustment for baseline confounders in the 2 groups (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 4.1, p = 0.016 in younger patients; AHR 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 3.0, p = 0.88 in older patients). In the 2 groups, PCI and CABG showed similar adjusted risks for all-cause death, cardiac death, and myocardial infarction. Target lesion revascularization occurred more frequently in patients aged <75 years treated with PCI compared to CABG (AHR 5.1, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 13.6, p = 0.001) but not in those aged ≥75 years. A significant interaction between age and treatment with regard to major adverse cardiac events was identified (adjusted p for interaction = 0.034). In conclusion, compared to younger patients, elderly patients with left main disease are likely to derive the maximal gain from a less invasive procedure such as PCI.

Impact of age on clinical outcomes after everolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation: pooled analysis from the SPIRIT III and SPIRIT IV clinical trials

AIMS

The impact of age on outcomes following everolimus-eluting stent (EES) or paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) implantation was evaluated in a patient-level pooled analysis of the SPIRIT III (n=1,002) and SPIRIT IV (n=3,687) trials.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Clinical outcomes with EES compared to PES in elderly (≥ 65 years, n=2,071) and younger (<65 years, n=2,617) patients were evaluated at one year. At one year, elderly patients treated with EES rather than PES showed a significant reduction in target lesion failure (TLF) (3.9% EES vs. 6.8% PES, p=0.006), major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (4.0% EES vs. 7.1% PES, p=0.005), and ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation (ID-TLR) (2.0% EES vs. 4.0% PES, p=0.01). Younger patients treated with EES rather than PES also had significantly reduced one-year rates of TLF (4.9% EES vs. 7.9% PES, p=0.003), MACE (5.0% EES vs. 8.0% PES, p=0.004), target vessel myocardial infarction (MI) (2.0% EES vs. 3.4% PES, p=0.04), ID-TLR (3.3% EES vs. 5.5% PES, p=0.01) and stent thrombosis (0.5% EES vs. 1.6% PES, p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In a pooled analysis from the SPIRIT III and IV trials, EES was safer and more effective than PES in both younger and older cohorts as evidenced by lower rates of TLR, TLF and MACE.

Ten-year outcomes of patients randomized to surgery, angioplasty, or medical treatment for stable multivessel coronary disease: effect of age in the Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study II trial

OBJECTIVE

With progressive aging, coronary artery disease has been diagnosed at more advanced ages. Although patients aged 65 years or more have been referred to surgical or percutaneous coronary interventions, the best option for coronary artery disease treatment remains uncertain. The current study compared the 3 treatment options for coronary artery disease in patients aged 65 years or more and analyzed the impact of age in treatment options.

METHODS

Patients were separated according to age: 65 years or more (n = 200) and less than 65 years (n = 411). All patients were followed for 10 years. The rates of overall mortality, acute myocardial infarction, and new revascularizations were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 200 patients aged 65 years or more, 68 were randomized to medical therapy, 68 were randomized to percutaneous coronary intervention, and 64 were randomized to coronary artery bypass grafting. At 10 years, overall survival was 63% (medical therapy), 69% (percutaneous coronary intervention), and 66% (coronary artery bypass grafting) (P = .93). The survival free of combined events was 43% (medical therapy), 38% (percutaneous coronary intervention ), and 66% (coronary artery bypass grafting) (P = .007). The survival free of myocardial infarction was 82% (medical therapy), 77% (percutaneous coronary intervention), and 90% (coronary artery bypass grafting) (P = .17), and survival free of new revascularizations was 59% (medical therapy), 58% (percutaneous coronary intervention ), and 91% (coronary artery bypass grafting) (P = .0003). When the 2 age groups were compared, survival free of myocardial infarction for patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention was 77% (older patients) and 92% (younger patients) (P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

In this analysis, treatment options for patients aged 65 years or more who have coronary artery disease yield similar overall survival. However, coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with fewer coronary events, and percutaneous coronary intervention was associated with a higher incidence of myocardial infarction.

Myocardial revascularization for the elderly: current options, role of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and outcomes

The increase in life expectancy has confronted cardiac surgery with a rapidly growing population of elderly patients requiring surgical myocardial revascularization. Recent advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques and improvements in postoperative care have made coronary artery bypass grafting an established therapeutic option for the treatment of coronary artery disease in this group of patients. However, conventional coronary artery bypass grafting on cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with significant risk and related morbidity and mortality in the elderly. In recent years off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has emerged as a safe and less invasive strategy for surgical myocardial revascularization. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting by avoiding the deleterious effects of cardiopulmonary bypass can offer potential benefits to elderly patients requiring surgical myocardial revascularization. This review article provides an overview of the age-related cardiovascular changes, epidemiology of coronary artery disease in the elderly and focuses on outcomes of surgical myocardial revascularization with special emphasis on the impact of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in the elderly.

Comparison of three age groups regarding safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry)

Limited data exist regarding drug-eluting stent (DES) versus bare metal stent (BMS) use in older patients. From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, 5,089 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-treated patients were studied (October 2001 to August 2006). The differences in 1-year safety (death, myocardial infarction, and their composite) and efficacy (target vessel revascularization [TVR] with PCI and repeat revascularization) outcomes were compared between the patients who received DESs versus BMSs within each age group: <65 years (n = 2,680); 65 to 79 years (n = 1,942); ≥80 years (n = 443). No differences were found in the safety outcomes by stent type in any age group at 1 year. Regarding the effectiveness, lower rates of TVR with PCI and repeat revascularization were observed in the DES patients across all age groups. After propensity-adjusted analysis, the risk of TVR with PCI and repeat revascularization favored DES versus BMS with patients <65 years old (7.4% vs 14.6%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32 to 0.60; 12.3% vs and 17.4%, HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.84, respectively), 65 to 79 years old (4.8% vs 9.5%, HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.80; and 7.6% vs 12.3%, HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.88, respectively), and ≥80 years old (4.5% vs 10.4%, HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.44; and 6.0% vs 14.5%, HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.40, respectively). In conclusion, significant reductions in TVR with PCI and repeat revascularization were noted in all 3 age groups without increases in death or myocardial infarction in this large multicenter PCI registry. Our data support the use of DES, regardless of age.

Clinical and angiographic outcomes of elderly patients treated with everolimus-eluting versus paclitaxel-eluting stents: three-year results from the SPIRIT III randomised trial

AIMS

Age is an important determinant of outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This report from the randomised multicentre SPIRIT III trial compares the outcomes in elderly and younger patients treated with everolimus-eluting stent (EES) versus paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 1,002 patients with stable or unstable angina or inducible ischaemia undergoing PCI were randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive EES or PES. Outcomes were examined across the randomised groups as a function of age and stent type. Patients ≥65 years of age (elderly) treated with EES vs. PES had lower in-segment late lumen loss (0.11±0.32 mm vs. 0.38±0.55 mm, respectively, p=0.0002) and lower rates of binary in-segment restenosis (3.4% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.004) at eight months, along with a 48% lower incidence of 3-year target vessel failure (TVF=cardiac death, myocardial infarction and ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularisation [TVR]; 10.8% vs. 20.8%, p=0.009), mainly due to a lower incidence of TVR (5.4% vs. 9.2%, p=0.20). Among EES patients, elderly compared to younger patients had comparable rates of binary in-segment restenosis (3.4% vs. 5.6%, p=0.44) at eight months but paradoxically lower rates of TVF (10.8% vs. 17.1%, p=0.03) at three years. Among PES patients, elderly compared to younger patients had a higher rate of binary in-segment restenosis (15.5% vs. 3.4%, p=0.01) at eight months and no difference in the rate of 3-year TVF (20.8% vs. 19.4%, p=0.77) .There was a significant interaction between stent assignment, age ≥65 years and 8-month angiographic in-segment late loss (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of both EES and PES appeared to be safe in elderly patients, however EES compared to PES was more effective due to enhanced 3-year MACE- and TVF-free outcomes. Further research should clarify age-specific mechanisms of neointimal response after treatment with drug-eluting stents.

Comparison of outcomes of patients ≥ 80 years of age having percutaneous coronary intervention according to presentation (stable vs unstable angina pectoris/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction vs ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction)

Patients ≥ 80 years old with coronary artery disease constitute a particular risk group in relation to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). From 2002 through 2008 we examined the annual proportion of patients ≥ 80 years old undergoing PCI in western Denmark, their indications for PCI, and prognosis. From 2002 through 2009 all elderly patients treated with PCI were identified in a population of 3.0 million based on the Western Denmark Heart Registry. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality rates according to clinical indications controlling for potential confounding. In total 3,792 elderly patients (≥ 80 years old) were treated with PCI and the annual proportion increased from 224 (5.4%) in 2002 to 588 (10.2%) in 2009. The clinical indication was stable angina pectoris (SAP) in 30.2%, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 35.0%, UAP/non-STEMI in 29.7%, and "ventricular arrhythmia or congestive heart failure" in 5.1%. Overall 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 9.2% and 18.1%, respectively. Compared to patients with SAP the adjusted 1-year mortality risk was significantly higher for patients presenting with STEMI (hazard ratio 3.86, 95% confidence interval 3.08 to 4.85), UAP/non-STEMI (hazard ratio 1.95, 95% confidence interval 1.53 to 2.50), and ventricular arrhythmia or congestive heart failure (hazard ratio 2.75, 95% confidence interval 1.92 to 3.92). In patients with SAP target vessel revascularization decreased from 7.1% in 2002 to 2.5% in 2008. In conclusion, the proportion of patients ≥ 80 years old treated with PCI increased significantly over an 8-year period. Patients with SAP had the lowest mortality rates and rates of clinically driven target vessel revascularization decreased over time.

Procedural and long-term outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians

Background/objectives. To investigate the procedural and long-term outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in octogenarians with an acute myocardial infarction.Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive octogenarian patients (n=98) with an acute myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI in the Catharina Hospital in the year 2006. We compared procedural results and outcome with a matched control group composed of non-octogenarians undergoing primary PCI. Follow-up period was one year.Results. The initial success rate of PCI was similar in the two groups but short-term mortality was higher among the elderly patients: 30-day mortality 26.3 vs. 9.6%. Age-adjusted mortality between 30 days and one year was comparable in the two groups and similar to natural survival in the Netherlands. Octogenarians were less likely to have a normal left ventricular function during follow-up (48.3 vs. 66.7%). New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and recurrence rate of myocardial infarction was higher among octogenarians.Conclusion. Technical success rate during primary PCI was as good for octogenarians as in younger patients, but 30-day mortality, though acceptable, was higher among the elderly. After 30 days, age-adjusted mortality was comparable in both groups. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:129-34.).

Comparison of five-year outcome of octogenarians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting versus bare-metal stents (from the RESEARCH and T-SEARCH Registries)

Although octogenarians are increasingly referred for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), data are lacking on long-term safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents in this high-risk subpopulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate 5-year clinical outcome of octogenarians who underwent PCI using sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs) compared to bare-metal stents (BMSs). From January 2000 to December 2005, 319 consecutive octogenarian patients who underwent PCI with BMSs (n = 93, January 2000 to April 2002), SESs (n = 52, April 2002 to February 2003), or PESs (n = 174, February 2003 to December 2005) were included prospectively. Primary study end points were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), defined as all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularization. Mean age of the study population was 83 ± 2 years and 51% of patients were men. Median follow-up duration was 5.4 years (range 3 to 9). Five-year mortality rates in the BMS, SES, and PES cohorts were similar (41%, 42%, and 41%, respectively). Cumulative 5-year MACE-free survival in the BMS, SES, and PES cohorts were 44%, 52%, and 48%, respectively. Compared to the BMS cohort, adjusted hazard ratios for MACEs in the SES and PES cohorts were 0.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3 to 0.9, p <0.05) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.2 to 1.4, p = 0.2), respectively. Overall, use of drug-eluting stents was associated with fewer MACEs (adjusted hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.9, p <0.05) and a trend toward less target vessel revascularization (adjusted hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.2, p = 0.1). In conclusion, PCI with drug-eluting stents in octogenarians was found to be safe and more effective compared to PCI with BMSs.

Comparison of outcomes in patients > or =70 years versus <70 years after transradial coronary stenting with maximal antiplatelet therapy for acute coronary syndrome

Elderly patients are at a higher risk for complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when performed through the femoral approach. The impact of age on complications in patients treated using the transradial approach is not known. The bleeding and ischemic outcomes at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after transradial PCI and maximal antiplatelet therapy were compared in 1,348 patients aged <70 or > or =70 years with acute coronary syndromes. All patients received aspirin and clopidogrel before catheterization, followed by abciximab at the time of PCI. Patients aged > or =70 years (n = 259 [19%]) had more hypertension, dyslipidemia, family histories, and previous coronary artery bypass grafting. Older patients had lower baseline hemoglobin, platelet, and creatinine clearance values, and they also more often had 2- or 3-vessel syndrome (p = 0.001), as well as longer procedure durations (p = 0.024). At 30 days, the rates of major adverse cardiac events and major bleeding were similar in older and younger patients. Only the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (p = 0.021) and mild to moderate access-site hematoma were higher in older patients (p = 0.036). The rates of major adverse cardiac events were also similar in the 2 age groups at 6 months (6% vs 9%, p = 0.08), 1 year (10% vs 13%, p = 0.22), and 3 years (19% vs 20%, p = 0.73), but mortality was significantly higher at 3 years in patients aged > or =70 years (p = 0.0031). In conclusion, age per se is not a predictor of major adverse cardiac events or major bleeding after transradial PCI with maximal antiplatelet therapy. However, older patients remain more prone to gastrointestinal bleeding and local hematoma compared to younger patients, and preventive measures need to be further investigated.

Improved long-term prognosis of elderly women in the era of sirolimus-eluting stents

BACKGROUND

The angiographic characteristics and prognosis in elderly women in relation to the therapeutic impact of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) need to be clarified.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Quantitative coronary angiography analysis was performed in 1,374 patients with coronary artery disease: 670 patients were treated with a bare metal stent (BMS) and the remaining 704 were treated with SES. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to gender and age (<75 years M/F, > or =75 years M/F), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were compared among them. Women > or =75 years old tended to have 3-vessel disease with small vessel size and the incidence of MACE in this group was high in the BMS era. However, in the SES era, this prognosis improved by reducing all-cause death and target vessel revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

Using SES has a therapeutic advantage for the high-risk population of elderly women with angiographically unsuitable lesions for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Drug-eluting stents in octogenarians: early and intermediate outcome

BACKGROUND

Large randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that percutaneous coronary intervention with the routine use of drug-eluting stents is safe and effective. However, octogenarians are usually excluded from these trials.

METHODS

We analyzed 2453 consecutive patients who underwent DES implantation at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). The patients were classified in 2 age groups: patients > or = 80 years of age < or = 79 years of age.

RESULTS

Patients > or = 80 years old had significantly more adverse baseline characteristics including more comorbid conditions and more severe extensive coronary artery disease. Procedural success was high irrespective of the age group--97% in patients > or = 80 years of age versus 98% in the younger patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age of > or = 80 years was significantly associated with inhospital major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (P = .004). In addition, among inhospital survivors, octogenarians also had higher follow-up MACE rates (P < .001). At 12 months of follow-up, patients > or = 80 years of age had a mortality of 8.9% versus 3.0% for the younger patients (P < .001). The older patients also had more recurrent myocardial infarction (5.2% vs 2.6%, P = .019). However, there was no significant difference in 12-month target lesion revascularization (4.5% vs 4.9% [> or = 80 years of age vs < or = 79 years of age]) or coronary artery bypass grafting (1.8% vs 1.3% [> or = 80 years of age vs < or = 79 years of age]). After age-sex adjustment, life expectancy of octogenarians was similar to that of the general population (P = .78).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that drug-eluting stent implantation in octogenarians has high initial procedural success rates compared with the younger patients despite having more severe baseline risk characteristics. During follow-up, death and overall MACE rates remain higher in octogenarians but target lesion revascularization rates are similar.