title: Impact of Aging on Radial Spasm During Coronary Catheterization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of aging on the incidence and severity of radial spasm during coronary catheterization.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  One of the main predictors for transradial approach failure during coronary catheterization is the occurrence of radial spasm. Although it has been suggested that radial spasm might be more common in old patients, the role of confounding factors in older populations and the intuitive thinking that younger patients are more prone to spasm render this debate still active.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a transversal study, which prospectively included consecutive patients referred to our center for elective coronary catheterization during a 6-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 190 patients were included. The mean age was 67.9 ± 3.6 years and 130 (68%) were males. Overall, 32 (16.8%) presented with radial spasm. Patients with radial spasm were younger (64.8 ± 12.1 years vs 69.6 ± 12.6 years; P=.04). In the quartile analysis, the largest difference was observed between patients ≤61 years and those >80 years, who presented with a rate of spasm of 25.6% and 9.1%, respectively (P=.04). Multivariable analysis showed that the age of patients was inversely related to the occurrence of radial spasm, decreasing 3% with every additional year (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99), and the number of catheters, increasing around 50% with every additional used catheter (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.07-2.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main finding of the present paper is the inverse association between aging and radial spasm. The present study suggests the need to intensify preventive measures in young patients in order to reduce the incidence of radial spasm.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trilla
authors.affiliation: Sección de Hemodinámica Cardiaca, Escalera 3 Planta 4, c/ Villarroel 170, 80136, Barcelona, España. Freixa@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Freixa
authors.forename: Ander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regueiro
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brugaletta
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martin-Yuste
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Amadeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Betriu
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabaté
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013035:Spasm / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult