Inflammation link to risk grows with age after heart artery opening
A 10-year cohort study of 9,570 coronary artery disease patients found stronger inflammation–risk links at older ages after procedures to open heart arteries.
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
In a prospective cohort study, researchers analyzed data from 9,570 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, a procedure to open blocked heart arteries. Their mean age was 58.6 years, and 22.8% were women. Researchers followed patients for up to 10 years, grouping them into those under 60, 60 to 74, and 75 or older. They assessed 12 inflammation markers, including white blood cell counts and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a blood marker of inflammation.
During the 10-year follow-up, 3,551 patients (37.1%) experienced major cardiovascular complications, including death, heart attack, or procedures to restore blood flow. Higher inflammation-marker levels were associated with greater risks of major complications and death after adjustment for other factors. These associations were substantially stronger in older patients.
Why it matters
Body-wide inflammation increases with age and is a hallmark of biological aging. The authors highlighted age-informed risk assessment and targeted anti-inflammatory strategies for older patients after these procedures.
Caveats
Because this was an observational cohort study, the findings show associations and cannot establish that inflammation caused the higher complication rates. The study included only patients who underwent procedures for coronary artery disease, so the results may not apply to healthier adults or people with other conditions.