title: In-hospital management and mortality in elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes treated in centers without on-site invasive facilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose was to assess age-related differences in hospital management and mortality in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS) patients treated conservatively, with a focus on the influence of aggressive pharmacological treatment on in-hospital clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 807 NSTE ACS patients treated conservatively in the 29 hospitals participating in the Krakow Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes from February to March 2005 and from December 2005 to January 2006. Out of 807 patients' 32.1% were less than 65 years of age, 33% from 65 to 74, 30.5% from 75 to 84, and 5.3% >or= 85. For all patients, pharmacotherapy index based on the use of pharmacological treatment regimen during hospital stay was assessed. Each patient received 1 point for each of the following guideline-recommended drugs used: aspirin, clopidogrel, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, LMWH, beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker and statin - the range of points being from 0 to 7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant age-related differences in baseline characteristics and pharmacotherapy index values were found. In-hospital mortality was higher in elderly patients (2.4% vs. 3.4% vs. 8.9% vs. 14.0%, respectively for age groups, p < 0.0001). Similarly, in non-shock patients and in patients with elevated cardiac markers, age-dependent differences in mortality were observed. Independent predictors of in-hospital death were: age, cardiogenic shock, elevated cardiac markers and pharmacotherapy index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced age is associated with less aggressive pharmacological treatment and higher in-hospital mortality in NSTE ACS patients remaining in community hospitals for conservative treatment. Broader implementation of current guidelines and more frequent invasive treatment might improve the outcomes of NSTE ACS patients regardless of age.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dziewierz
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Siudak
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakowski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zdzienicka
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dykla
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mielecki
authors.forename: Jacek S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dubiel
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors