Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization in Elderly Patients: Impact on Functional Status and Quality of Life

20 June 2000 | Volume 132 Issue 12 | Pages 955-958

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is frequently performed in elderly patients, but little is known about its impact on overall health and quality of life.

Objective: To examine changes in health-related quality of life among elderly patients after PCI.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: 75 U.S. hospitals.

Patients: Participants in two clinical trials of PCI.

Measurements: Health-related quality of life was assessed by using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) survey and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year.

Results: Serial data on health-related quality of life were available for 295 elderly ( 70 years) and 1150 nonelderly (<70 years) patients. At 6 months, physical health had improved in 51% of elderly patients and mental health had improved in 29%. Cardiovascular-specific health status had improved in 58% to 75% of elderly patients. Improvement did not significantly differ between elderly and nonelderly patients at 6 months or 1 year.

Conclusions: Elderly patients selected for participation in a trial of PCI had substantial improvements in health-related quality of life after PCI that were similar to those in younger patients.

Author and Article Information

From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York; and Queen's Medical Center, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and University of Hawaii School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Roger Davis, ScD, and John Spertus, MD, for thoughtful review of an earlier draft of this manuscript.

Grant Support: In part by a Clinician-Scientist Award from the American Heart Association (Dr. Cohen) and an unrestricted grant from Guidant, Inc. (Santa Clara, California).

Requests for Single Reprints: David J. Cohen, MD, MSc, Cardiovascular Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.

Current Author Addresses: Dr. Seto: Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Dr. Taira: Hawaii Medical Service Association, Care Management, 818 Keeaumoku Street, Honolulu, HI 96814.

Ms. Berezin: Cardiovascular Data Analysis Center, 900 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02215.

Drs. Chauhan, Ho, Kuntz, and Cohen: Cardiovascular Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.

Dr. Cutlip: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14620.

Author Contributions: Conception and design: T.B. Seto, D.A. Taira, R.E. Kuntz, D.J. Cohen.

Analysis and interpretation of the data: T.B. Seto, D.A. Taira, R. Berezin, D.E. Cutlip, K.K.L. Ho, D.J. Cohen.

Drafting of the article: T.B. Seto, D.A. Taira, D.J. Cohen.

Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: T.B. Seto, D.A. Taira, M.S. Chauhan, D.E. Cutlip, K.K.L. Ho, R.E. Kuntz, D.J. Cohen.

Final approval of the article: T.B. Seto, D.A. Taira, R. Berezin, M.S. Chauhan, D.E. Cutlip, K.K.L. Ho, R.E. Kuntz, D.J. Cohen.

Statistical expertise: R.E. Kuntz, D.J. Cohen.

Obtaining of funding: D.J. Cohen.

Administrative, technical, or logistic support: R. Berezin, M.S. Chauhan, D.E. Cutlip.

Collection and assembly of data: R. Berezin, M.S. Chauhan, D.E. Cutlip, K.K.L. Ho, R.E. Kuntz.