Prognostic impact of Achilles tendon thickness in elderly patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: A 5-year follow-up

Background: Evaluating the Achilles tendon thickness (ATT) may be beneficial for risk stratification of long-term secondary cardiovascular events among patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: This observational study evaluated major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), including cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes, at 5 years after PCI according to the baseline ATT (>= 9 mm vs. <9 mm).Results: Overall, 355 patients aged >= 75 years were enrolled; 47 (13.2 %) and 308 patients (86.8 %) had an ATT >= 9 mm and <9 mm, respectively. The incidence of MACCEs at 5 years was numerically higher but not significantly different for the ATT >= 9 mm group compared with the ATT <9 mm group (Gray's p-value = 0.10). However, the incidence of cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes at 5 years was significantly higher in the ATT >= 9 mm group than in the ATT <9 mm group (Gray's p-value = 0.034). Multivariable Fine and Gray competing risk analysis showed that an ATT >= 9 mm was associated with both MACCEs [hazard ratio (HR), 1.95; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.12-3.41; p-value = 0.019] and cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes (HR, 2.81; 95 % CI, 1.31-6.03; p-value = 0.008) at 5 years in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >= 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2).Conclusions: A significantly thick Achilles tendon could be a marker for MACCEs, including cardiovascular death/death from unknown causes, at 5 years among elderly patients with an eGFR >= 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) after PCI.(c) 2023 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.