CLINICAL AND PROGNOSTIC FEATURES OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH UNSTABLE ANGINA PECTORIS UNDERGOING CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT DEPENDING ON LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION
Authors: Lebedeva Natalia B. , Isakov Leonid K. , Sinkova Margarita N. , Tarasov Nikolay I. , Kuznetsova Lilia V. 
Published: June 2023

Highlights

High cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the Russian Federation and in Kuzbass is mainly due to high number of elderly and senile patients; it simply reflects the current demographic situation in the country. Elderly and senile patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) account for 50% of hospitalized patients. In real clinical practice, a significant number of elderly patients with ACS receive conservative treatment, whereas the prognosis in this cohort is determined by the development of recurrent coronary events and the progression of heart failure. Due to small number of patients older than 75-80 years included in randomized clinical trials, there are certain gaps in the management of elderly patients with ACS and heart failure. Obviously, elderly patients require a special approach to patient management, taking into account the complexity of clinical and anamnestic factors affecting the prognosis.

 

Abstract

Aim. To study clinical and prognostic features of elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris undergoing conservative treatment depending on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods. 130 elderly patients, with mean age of 82 (77; 89) years, hospitalized for unstable angina with a GRACE score of less than 140 to a vascular center in Kemerovo were included in the study. During hospitalization, standard laboratory and instrumental studies were performed, except coronary angiography. The quality of life was assessed using the EQ-5D 3L questionnaire. After 12 months, patient compliance with treatment recommendations, primary and secondary endpoints, and quality of life were analyzed.

Results. All patients were diagnosed with heart failure, 50 (38.5%) patients presented with LV EF less than 40% (the group I), 80 (61.5%) patients presented with LV EF more than 40% (the group II). The groups were comparable in gender, age, presence of multifocal of atherosclerotic disease, prevalence of aortic stenosis, arrhythmias and comorbidities. Women predominated in both groups, and arterial hypertension was noted in all patients. In the group I, a history of myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and NYHA FC III were more common (p<0.05). The level of quality of life at discharge was low in both groups: 34.8 (29; 42) and 39.4 (34; 46) points, respectively (p>0.05). Almost all patients were on triple neurohumoral blockade (beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists) for heart failure and dual antiplatelet therapy. One year later, 85.2% of patients in the group I and 90% of patients in the group II were taking all prescribed medication at low or medium therapeutic doses (without the need for drug titration). The overall mortality in the groups was 46% and 37.5%; cardiovascular deaths accounted for 32% and 30%, respectively (p>0.05). There were no differences in the frequency of endpoints (hospitalization, stroke, acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization) between the groups. The level of quality of life remained low in both groups.

Conclusion. In patients over 75 years hospitalized for unstable angina, main clinical and anamnestic characteristics, annual prognosis and quality of life do not depend on LV EF, whereas the need for coronary revascularization during the 1 year remains high.