The acute myocardial infarction in very elderly

A total 325 patients were studied at admission for myocardial infarction, m easuring plasma fibrinogen (FBG), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and automatized hemocromocytometric parameters in order to contribute to explain the excess mortality reported in very elderly pat ients. It was found that age positively correlated with fibrinogen and LDH values and inversely with CPK, hemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte coun t. The unpaired comparison of the variables studied in age subgroups showed no differences between patients aged 65 or less than 65 years and patients aged 66-75 years. In patients aged over 75 years FBC, neutrophile count an d LDH were significantly higher in respect to 65 or less and 66-75 years ag e subgroups and hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, hematocrit and lymphocyte count were lower. In the very elderly patients the study sho ws a biochemical feature suggesting delayed hospitalization for myocardial infarction, that may contribute to their poorer prognosis. (C) 2000 Publish ed by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.