SHORT AND LONG-TERM RESULTS OF CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY IN PATIENTS OVER 75 YEARS

Aims: This report reviews the outcome of percutaneous transluminal cor onary angioplasty (PTCA) on patients aged 75 years or over at this ins titution, in order to provide statistics that may be useful in managin g elderly patients. Methods: All elderly patients undergoing PTCA betw een January 1984 and December 1990 were included. Data concerning the PTCA procedure and short term (hospital stay) outcome were compared to those of all patients less than 75 years who underwent PTCA during th e same period. Long term outcome was obtained for all surviving elderl y patients. Results: One hundred and eleven procedures were performed on patients over 75 years, compared to 3183 procedures on patients und er 75. The incidence of PTCA in the elderly increased to 6.7% of all p rocedures in 1990. Elderly patients were more symptomatic (97% vs 79% in patients under 75 years had Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade 3 or 4 angina), more frequently had the procedure performed urgently (3 9% vs 14%) and often (67%) had risk factors for PTCA (3 vessel disease , significant left ventricular dysfunction, or a complicating medical illness). Primary success rates (86% us 90% in patients under 75 years ), urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (1.8% vs 1.9%) and Q wave in farction (1.8% vs 1.0%) were similar in the two age groups. In the eld erly, procedural difficulties requiring non standard equipment were co mmon (61%), and in-hospital mortality was increased (4.5% vs 0.7%). Ad ditionally, three patients died after discharge resulting in a 30 day mortality of 7.2%. A favourable long term outcome was obtained in 50% of patients at a mean follow up of 20 months. Unfavourable or neutral outcome was due to one or more of the following; death (16%), coronary artery bypass grafting (19%), acute myocardial infarction (7.5%) or s ignificant residual angina (17%). Conclusions: Highly symptomatic pati ents over 75 years constitute a high risk group for PTCA, with approxi mately half obtaining a favourable long term outcome.