Acute myocardial infarction in older adult patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess clinical and coronary angiographic characteristics, previous medical history, and clinical course, by age group, in older adults after myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). METHODS: Single-center, cohort study that enrolled all patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent pPCI at a specialized cardiology reference center in the South of Brazil. Older adults were defined as age ≥ 60 years, as set out in Brazilian legislation. Patients in the following age groups were compared: 60 to 64 years, 65 to 69 years, 70 to 74 years, 75 to 79 years, and ≥ 80 years. Patients’ clinical course was assessed at initial hospital admissions and after 2 years of clinical follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19, and significance was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: From December 2015 to December 2018, a total of 636 patients were enrolled consecutively. Angiographic success rates were around 90% in all age groups. There were no differences in medications used, except for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, which were more frequently used in patients of lower age groups. Older patients had more in-hospital acute renal failure and higher in-hospital mortality. Predictors of mortality were age over 75, chronic renal failure, need for ventilatory support, severe arrhythmia, and sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: pPCI in older adult patients is a safe procedure with a high success rate.