The Impact of Advanced Age on Major Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing a Pharmaco-Invasive Strategy

Background: There is little research in the efficacy and safety of a pharmaco-invasive strategy (PIS) in patients >= 75 years versus <75 years of age. We aimed to evaluate and compare the influence of advanced age on the risk of death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients undergoing PIS. Methods: Between January 2010 and November 2016, 14 municipal emergency rooms in Sao Paulo, Brazil, used full-dose tenecteplase to treat patients with STEMI as part of a pharmaco-invasive strategy for a local network implementation. Results: A total of 1852 patients undergoing PIS were evaluated, of which 160 (9%) were >= 75 years of age. Compared to patients <75 years, those >= 75 years were more often female, had lower body mass index, higher rates of hypertension; higher incidence of hypothyroidism, chronic renal failure, prior stroke, and diabetes. Compared to patients <75 years of age, in-hospital MACE and mortality were higher in patients with >= 75 years (6.5% versus 19.4%; p<0.001; and 4.0% versus 18.2%; p<0.001, respectively). Patients >= 75 years had higher rates of in-hospital major bleeding (2.7% versus 5.6%; p=0.04) and higher incidence of cardiogenic shock (7.0% versus 19.6%; p<0.001). By multivariable analysis, age >= 75 years was independent predictor of MACE (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.72 to 7.42, p=0.001) and death (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.12-3.82, p=0.020). Conclusion: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing PIS, age >= 75 years was an independent factor that entailed a 3.5-fold higher MACE and 2-fold higher mortality rate compared to patients <75 years of age.