title: Differences in presentation, treatment, and prognosis in elderly patients with non‑ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced age is a significant risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Because women live longer than men, they constitute the majority of elderly patients with ACS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess differences in clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis in elderly women with non‑ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1219 consecutive patients with NSTEMI (women, 43%) hospitalized during 1 year in a district of 1,300,000 inhabitants were analyzed. Data concerning in‑hospital course were obtained from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL‑ACS), data on rehospitalization from the local branch of the National Health Fund, and data on mortality from the local register office.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 387 patients aged under 65 years (women, 27%) and 832 aged over 65 years (women, 50.1%). In both groups, women had more risk factors than men. Coronary angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were performed less frequently in the age group over 65 years, both in men and women, compared with the younger age group (23.8% vs. 41.9%, P <0.001 and 11.8% vs. 25.6%, P <0.01, respectively). Treatment outcomes were comparable between men and women in both age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In elderly patients with NSTEMI, the percentage of women is higher than that of men compared with the younger age group. Despite the fact that invasive approach was less frequently used   in women, long‑term prognosis was similar in both sexes.
authors.affiliation: The Jan Kochanowski University of Sciences and Humanities, Kielce, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sielski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janion-Sadowska
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadowski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nowalany-Kozielska
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gierlotka
authors.forename: Lech
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poloński
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janion
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome