Background: Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are increasingly performed in elderly patients. However, it is not known whether PCI leads to symptomatic relief comparable to that in younger patients.
Patients and methods: 55 Patients aged 80 years or above with stable angina (82 +/- 2 years, 33 males, 22 females) were prospectively compared with younger patients (62 +/- 8 years) regarding their quality of life following PCI. For psychometric evaluation, the German version of the SF-36 Health Survey was used.
Results: Prior to angioplasty, there was significant physical pain, a perception of reduced general health and a significant limitation of physical activity in both groups. The number of diseased vessels was 2.7 +/- 0.6 in octogenarian patients vs. 2.6 +/- 0.7 in control patients; interventions were performed in 1.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.2 vessels and in 1.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.5 lesions. Frequency of stent implantation was 0.9 +/- 0.3 per lesion in both groups. Success rates were comparable in both groups (94 % vs. 97 %), as well as complication rates In both groups 6 months after angioplasty, bodily pain had decreased, the perception of general health and the ability to fulfill physical role expectations had improved. The effects on bodily pain and on the ability to fulfill physical role expectations were more pronounced in octogenarian patients.
Conclusions: Our study shows that PCI improves quality of life in octogenarian patients with stable angina without excessive risk. The benefits of PCI were, in some aspects, even more pronounced than in younger patients.