Myocardial Infarction in Patient Aged 70 years or Older

The clinical data of 102 patients with myocardical infarction whose ages were 70 years or older (=70 years) were compared retrospectively with those of 44 younger patients (<70 years). 35 % of patients in the older and 19 % of those in the younger group were females. With advancing age the difference of mean ages between males and females diminished. Anterior location in the group of <70 years (P<0.01) and subendocardial location in the group of =70 years (P<0.01) were more frequent. Transmural myocardial infarctions were found more frequently in the group of <70 years. Although the incidence of hypertension in the older group was more frequent, the incidence of diabetes was not different between the two groups. Heart failure was more frequent and more severe in the older group. Mean QRS scores of the older and younger groups and between patients with or without heart failure in the older group were not different. Serious rhythm and conduction disturbances were more frequent in the group of =70 years. Hospital mortality rates were 23.1 % and 12.5 % in the older and younger groups, respectively. Death rate due to heart failure was 13.7 % in the older and 7.8 % in the younger group. In conclusion, more frequent rhythm disturbances and heart failure were seen in the elderly. Although the occurrence of heart failure was not closely associated with infarct area in the older, it is thought that such association was closer in the younger. Consequently, a higher early mortality is observed in older people.