Primary coronary angioplasty in patients over 80 years of age

Background The number of elderly patients submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly prevalent. Historically, this population has a worse prognosis when compared to the younger ones. This study aimed to compare the characteristics and 30-day clinical outcomes of patients aged ≥ 80 years to those < 80 years submitted to primary PCI. Methods Observational, prospective cohort study, extracted from the database of Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul, between 2009 and 2013. Results A total of 1,970 patients were included, of whom 122 (6.2%) were aged ≥ 80 years. The elderly showed a predominance of the female gender (50% vs. 29%; p < 0.001), diabetes (34.4% vs. 23.2%; p = 0.004), Killip class 3 or 4 (13.1% vs. 7.4%; p < 0.02), and longer door-to-balloon time (1.4 hour [1.0-1.9 hour] vs. 1.1 hour [0.8-1.5 hour]; p < 0.001). The TIMI 3 post flow did not show any difference between the groups (86% vs. 90.7%; p = 0.08), but the Blush 3 post was lower (59.3% vs. 70.9%; p = 0.01) in the elderly. Angiographic success was obtained in 92.0% vs. 95.6%; p = 0.07. Temporary pacemakers, severe arrhythmias, and aborted sudden death were more frequently observed in patients aged ≥ 80 years. The rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and death at 30 days were higher in the older group (32.2% vs. 11.5% and 29.7% vs. 7.2%; p < 0.001). Conclusions In this contemporary analysis, patients aged ≥ 80 years undergoing primary PCI had a more severe clinical and angiographic profile, longer door-to-balloon time, lower final Blush 3, with higher rates of hospital complications and 30-day mortality when compared with younger patients.