[Coronary transluminal angioplasty after 70 years of age. Multivariate analysis of parameters influencing immediate results and long-term prognosis].
Between January 1986 and July 1990, 186 patients over 70 years of age underwent 215 transluminal coronary angioplasties. The patients' characteristics were: 117 men and 69 women; mean age 75.5 +/- 4 years (70-89 years): left ventricular ejection fraction 62 +/- 12%: 40% had previous myocardial infarction; 48% had single vessel disease; 80% had severe angina (19% Class III and 61% Class IV) and 58% of dilated vessels had calcification. In all, 276 vessels (1.3 patient) were dilated: one vessel in 77%, 2 vessels in 18% and 3 or more in 5% of patients. The primary success rate defined as a reduction of the diameter of stenosis below 50% was 81% (174/215 procedures) (85%-215/253 stenosis--in dilatations and 65%-15/23 obstructions--in attempted disobliterations). There were 4 deaths (2.1%), 12 Q wave infarcts (5.5%) and 5 non Q wave infarcts (2.3%), 2 emergency bypass grafts procedures and no cerebrovascular accidents. A multivariate analysis identified two factors which reduced the primary success rate: coronary calcification (p less than 0.02) and a history of previous infarction (p less than 0.02). Three factors were associated with an increased risk of perioperative infarction: the female sex, age greater than 75 years (p less than 0.01) and previous infarction (p less than 0.03). The first 154 patients were followed up for 25 +/- 14 months (8-61 months) without any patients being lost to follow-up. In this period, 16 patients died (11 of cardiac causes), 2 had non-fatal infarction, 13 underwent secondary aortocoronary bypass surgery and 30 patients (20%) developed an angiographic restenosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)