Use of Reperfusion Therapies in Elderly Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Almost one-third of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are aged >75 years, and this proportion is expected to increase as the population ages. Mortality and complication rates are particularly high in the elderly, yet reperfusion therapies, including thrombolysis and primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), are under-utilised among eligible patients. There is a concern, whether real or perceived, that the risks of such therapies may outweigh the potential benefits.