title: Age-related differences in antithrombotic therapy, success rate and in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the quality control registry of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Leitende Kardiologische Krankenhausärzte (ALKK).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This analysis examines the influence of age on antithrombotic therapy, success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and in-hospital mortality in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and elective PCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed data of 26,795 unselected patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), unstable Angina (UA) and elective PCI from the ALKK-PCI Registry 2006, a German prospective, multicentre registry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elderly patients (>75) with ACS were significantly less often treated with acetylsalicylic acid intravenously and a clopidogrel loading dose of 600 mg. Moreover, the administration of GP IIb/IIIa antagonists was significantly lower in these patients. The rate of successful PCI (indicated as TIMI 3 flow) is comparable in younger and elderly patients with elective PCI, UA and NSTEMI, whereas there were more unsuccessful interventions in elderly patients with STEMI (13.2 vs. 11.0%, p < 0,033). In all indications elderly patients showed increased in-hospital mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In clinical practice, elderly patients with ACS undergoing PCI receive significantly less intensive antithrombotic treatment. In terms of successful PCI, there was no significant difference between the age groups in patients with elective PCI, UA and NSTEMI. The higher in-hospital mortality of the elderly in all patient groups is most likely due to a higher rate of comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Herzzentrum Ludwigshafen, Medizinische Klinik B, Bremserstrasse 79, 67063 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Arne Kristian
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hochadel
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kerber
authors.forename: Karl E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hauptmann
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Glunz
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mudra
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Darius
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zeymer
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005858:Germany; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012042:Registries; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin