Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift · Mar 16, 2016
Treatment of coronary three-vessel disease in patients above 75 years
By John F, Aschenbrenner T, Felgendreher R et al.
BACKGROUND: Chronic ischemic heart disease take the first place in cause of death in Germany. The proportion of patients aged 75 years or older amounts more than 80 %. Due to their growing part of population the medical care of older patients becomes increasingly important. In this investigation patients aged ≥ 75 years with coronary three-vessel disease were characterized and various treatment strategies were compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This analysis was retrospective. The data of patients aged 75 years or older with three-vessel disease diagnosed by coronary angiography at the Klinikum Lippe Detmold between 2005 and 2007 were collected. Depending on the received therapy they were parted in three groups: optimal drug therapy (OMT), interventional - (PCI) and surgical revascularization (CABG). Patient characteristics as well as survival- and MACCE-rates during follow up were ascertained. Subgroup analyzes were performed for acute coronary syndrom (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease( CAD). RESULTS: The data of 434 patients with an average age of 79 years were documented. 139 (32.0 %) were assigned to the OMT- 189 (43.6 %) to the PCI- and 106 (24.4 %) to the CABG-group. Overall there was no significant difference between the three groups regarding mortality. In the subgroup of patients wit ACS (n = 180) mortality significantly increased in the OMT-group compared to the two invasive therapies (PCI (p = 0.029), CABG (p = 0.045)). The subgroup of patients with stable CAD showed no significant differences in mortality between the three types of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients benefit from an interventional or surgical revascularization in the context of ACS. In contrast, in elderly with stable CAD optimal medical therapy provides a reasonable alternative to invasive therapy without increase in mortality.