Improvement of Symptoms and Quality of Life After Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion in Elderly Patients

BACKGROUND: Data regarding the impact of successful chronic total occlusion treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (CTO‐PCI) on symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients (≥75 years) are unknown. This prospective study aimed to assess whether successful CTO‐PCI could improve the symptoms and QOL in elderly patients (≥75 years). METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients who underwent elective CTO‐PCI were prospectively enrolled and subdivided into 3 groups based on age: age<65 years, 65 years≤age<75 years, and age≥75 years. The primary outcomes included symptoms, as assessed with the New York Heart Association functional class and Seattle Angina Questionnaire, and QOL, as assessed with the 12‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire, at baseline, 1 month, and 1 year after successful CTO‐PCI. Of 1076 patients with CTO, 101 were age≥75 years (9.39%). Hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and left ventricular ejection fraction levels all decreased with increasing age, and NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide) increased. The proportion of dyspnea and coronary lesions, including multivessel disease, multi‐CTO lesion, and calcification were higher in elderly patients. Procedural success rate, intraprocedural complications, and in‐hospital major adverse cardiac events were not statistically different in the 3 groups. Importantly, symptoms, including dyspnea and angina, were markedly improved regardless of age at 1‐month and 1‐year follow‐up (P<0.05). Likewise, successful CTO‐PCI significantly improved QOL at 1‐month and 1‐year follow‐up (P<0.01). Additionally, the incidence of major adverse cardiac events and all‐cause mortality at 1‐month and 1‐year follow‐up was not statistically different in the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Successful PCI was beneficial and feasible to improve symptoms and QOL in patients ≥75 years of age with CTO.