P6403Predictors of bleeding in elderly patients with myocardial infarction: data from the real world
Authors: Alegria S , Marques A R , Pereira A R , Briosa A , Sebaiti D , Gomes A C , Morgado G , Cale R , Martins C , Rangel I , Pereira H 
Published: October 2019

Background

The population of elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) is clearly underrepresented in contemporary clinical trials. This population presents a higher risk of both cardiovascular and bleeding events, making the decision of the antithrombotic strategy particularly challenging.

Purpose

To characterize the antithrombotic therapy used in patients with MI and age ≥75 years, and to identify predictors of major bleeding and cardiovascular events in this population.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients with a diagnosis of MI and age ≥75 years included in the Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes between October 2010 and January 2018. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of major bleeding and of the combined endpoint of in-hospital mortality and reinfarction.

Results

The analysis included 17.868 patients of which 30.1% with age ≥75 years. This population had a mean age of 82±5 years, 57% were male and 36% had a diagnosis of STEMI. On admission 10% presented with Killip-Kimball (KK) class III or IV, 14% were on atrial fibrillation (AF), and the mean Hb and creatinine levels were 13±2 g/dl and 1.6±1.2 mg/dl, respectively. In comparison with younger patients, this population had higher Grace and Crusade scores (178 vs 139, and 41 vs 24, respectively). Most elderly patients (74%) underwent coronary angiography (71% by radial artery access) and 75% were submitted to percutaneous revascularization, 9% to surgery, and 1% to an hybrid strategy. Aspirin was used in 96% of patients, clopidogrel in 82%, ticagrelor in 13% (vs 25% of younger patients; p<0.001), and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) in 11%. Most patients were anticoagulated with enoxaparin (68 vs 56% of younger patients; p<0.001), 22% with unfractionated heparin (vs 30%; p<0.001), and 13% with fondaparinux (vs 14%; p=0.018). Complications were more common in the elderly population, including mechanical complications (1 vs 0.5%), atrioventricular block (5 vs 3%), stroke (1 vs 0.6%), major bleeding (3 vs 1%), in-hospital death (8 vs 2%) and reinfarction (2 vs 1%) (p<0.001 for all).

In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the predictors of major bleeding were diastolic blood pressure (BP) on admission <50 mmHg, maximum creatinine ≥2 mg/dl and the use of GPI. The predictors of the combined endpoint were a diagnosis of STEMI, previous history of cancer, chronic kidney disease or demencia, and the presence on admission of an heart rate <60 bpm, systolic BP <90 mmHg or ≥180 mmHg, KK class > I, AF, left bundle branch block, and left ventricle systolic dysfunction.

Conclusions

This study reflects the contemporary national reality of the management of elderly patients with MI. Overall, this population has a high risk of major bleeding, but several characteristics are associated with an even higher risk, such as the hemodynamic profile, renal function, and the use of GPI.