Invasive versus Conservative Treatment Approach among Older Adult Patients Admitted with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred treatment strategy for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI); however, its efficacy remains unclear in very older adult patients with STEMI. METHODS: This retrospective single-center observational study included 530 patients aged >75 years admitted to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center with a diagnosis of acute STEMI. Primary PCI was performed for patients with symptoms ≤12 hours in duration, while the other patients were conservatively treated. We evaluated 30-day mortality and complications occurring during hospitalization based on data from patient records. RESULTS: Among the study patients, only 28/530 (5%) were conservatively treated. In-hospital complications, including the use of inotropes or intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and the need for mechanical ventilation, did not differ significantly between the groups. The only parameter that showed a trend toward significance was the incidence of heart failure during hospitalization (p=0.042). The risk for 30-day mortality was substantially higher in the conservative treatment group than in the invasive treatment group (27% vs. 10%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that despite concerns regarding the safety of the primary PCI strategy in the older adult STEMI population, this treatment strategy was associated with a survival benefit.