The Management of Elderly Diabetic Saudi Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elderly Diabetics (DM) who present with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) constitute a very high risk group. We present the pattern of management of elderly patients (>65 years) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in comparison to the international data extrapolated from a Multicenter International Diabetes-Acute Coronary Syndromes (MIDAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DM patients presenting with unstable angina or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) at the time of admission to the hospital were collectively enrolled into the MIDAS study. A total of 3624 patients were enrolled; 142 were from Saudi Arabia. Primary clinical outcome measure was in-hospital death or MI. We present the data of KSA based on the age of the patients in comparison to the international registry. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were typical for DM presenting with ACS, with mean age of 67 ± 15 years, males, constituted 36% of patients while 94% of patients were DM type 2. There was marked underutilization of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in those aged over 65 years with a decrease from 22.5 to 12.7 in KSA (Odds ratio 0.56) patients. The percentage of early coronary angiography approach in KSA was less than that of the international data with further reduction of the percentage in Saudi elderly population (from 49.3% to 25.5% with Odds ratio 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly Saudi diabetic patients admitted with ACS, there is tendency for underutilization of GP IIb/IIIa, early coronary angiography, and revascularization that needs to be addressed.