UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Geriatrics

Title: ACS in the elderly

Keywords: mortality, acute coronary syndromes, prognosis (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/26/2009 by Amal Mattu, MD (Updated: 3/29/2024)
Click here to contact Amal Mattu, MD

The elderly are at tremendous risk of death after MI, in no small part because we tend to undertreat them. The 30-day mortality rate after MI in patients < 65 is 3%.

In patients 65-74, the 30-day mortality is 10%.

In patients 75-84, the 30-day mortality is 20%.

In patients > 85, the 30-day mortality is 30%.

Be vigilant and be aggressive with elderly patients. Their early management has a tremendous bearing on their later outcomes.