Background: We aimed to assess in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (PTCA) in elderly subjects.
Methods: A total of 1000 consecutive patients, who had all been admitted for interventional
treatment of symptomatic coronary artery disease, were retrospectively analysed.
Results: Elderly patients (≥ 70 years of age) were more likely to be diabetic, hypertensive and
of female gender. They more frequently were diagnosed with chronic heart failure as well as
prior stroke. Significantly higher proportions of the elderly population presented with
cardiogenic shock and underwent PTCA as a result of acute coronary syndromes. Multivessel
coronary disease affected a large majority of senior patients. Although stenting dominated in
both age groups, balloon angioplasty was relatively more frequently applied in the elderly.
Coronary angioplasty in elderly patients was associated with fewer direct stenting procedures,
longer exposure to X-rays and a higher volume of the contrast medium. The efficacy of intervention,
assessed according to clinical and angiographic criteria, was high in both groups,
although revascularisation was significantly less complete while crude in-hospital mortality
higher in the elderly group. Advanced age remained an independent predictor of both increased
in-hospital mortality and longer exposure to X-rays after an adjustment for the baseline
characteristics in multivariable analyses.
Conclusions: Despite frequent comorbidities and more extensive coronary athersoclerosis,
a high rate of procedural success was achieved in the elderly population who underwent PTCA.
However, after an adjustment for the baseline characteristics advanced age was still associated
with a less favourable in-hospital outcome and a higher degree of procedural complexity.
(Cardiol J 2007; 14: 143-154