Protective role of statins in patients with acute coronary syndrome aged ≥ 75 years with low LDL-C who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

The effect of statins in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at advanced age with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unknown. We evaluated the effect of statins in 220 Chinese patients with ACS aged ≥ 75 years with low LDL-C undergoing PCI. Biomarkers were measured before and 6 hours after PCI, and patients were followed up for 1 year. Biomarkers in the statin group at 6 hours post-PCI were lower than controls (creatine kinase-myocardial band 14.2 ± 5.78 vs 47.3 ± 16.4 IU/L, P = .03; cardiac troponin I 0.36 ± 0.12 vs 1.33 ± 0.47 ng/mL, P = .01; and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein 7.6 ± 4.3 vs 13.6 ± 4.5 mg/L, P = .001, respectively). Significant differences were found in major adverse cardiac events at 1 year (P = .02-.01), while target lesion revascularization alone was less at 3 months between the 2 groups (P = .03). This study demonstrates that elderly patients with ACS having low LDL-C benefit from statins regardless of type, dosage, and duration of statin administration prior to PCI.

[Prevalence for isolated systolic hypertension and analysis on its relative factors in 1002 cases >or= 80 year old persons].

OBJECTIVE: To study and analysis prevalence and incidence of target organ injury and the relative factors for isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) in Beijing. METHODS: 1002 cases aged 80 to 99 years were investigated in 28 cadre retirement centers in Beijing. Blood pressure was taken for three times with mercurial sphygmomanometer in every person, the mean values were recorded and the relative material was gathered according to questionnaire after the health education. Physical examination form of outpatient department and inpatient case history in fixed hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: In 1002 very old persons, there were 673 hypertensive patients (67.2%) and 455 ISH (45.4%). Among all hypertensive patients, the rate of ISH was 67.6% and double hypertension was 32.4%. Awareness rate was 87.90% and 97.71%, taking antihypertensive drug rate was 77.58% and 80.73%, control rate was 58.68% and 62.84% in ISH and in double hypertension group, respectively, which were no significant differences between the two groups. There was no significant difference in morbidities of cardiac heart disease, myocardial infarction and chronic renal insufficiency between the two groups. The incidences of heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, disability and dementia were 4.62% and 8.72%, 41.54% and 55.50%, 10.55% and 16.06%, 8.57% and 12.84% in ISH and double hypertension group, respectively, which were significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). The susceptible age period for ISH was 70 to 79 years in this study. CONCLUSION: ISH is more common in hypertensive patients in very old persons at 28 cadre retirement centers in Beijing. Morbidity of heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, disability and dementia were higher in double hypertension group compared with those in ISH group. The results showed that increase of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was more dangerous than that of systolic pressure only for very old persons. The improvement of small arterial plastic and the control of blood pressure to target level (< 140/90 mm Hg) in very old hypertensive patients are very important for decreasing the incidence of target organ injury and increasing their life quality and late survival rate.