The aim of our study was to determine the quality of life in elderly patients after PTCA using the SF 36 questionnaire measuring post procedural physical and mental health.
Study group: 71 pts > 65 years (M-46, F-25), mean age 70.92 +/- 3.49, post PTCA were examined with SF 36 questionnaire.
Control group: 73 pts < 65 years (M-61, F-12) mean age 53.6 +/- 7.37, post PTCA. The mean follow-up time was 19.3 +/- 3.2 month in the study group and 18.8 +/- 8.5 month in the control group (NS). The mean physical component summary score was 67.2 vs 69.7 points (NS) in the control group. The mean mental component summary score was 72.3 vs 74.4 points (NS) respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in the following multi item domains: general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role functioning and mental health, except physical functioning: 73.5 vs 76.3 points, p < 0.008 respectively. Additional questions asked revealed high satisfaction with performed PTCA, similar in both groups: 65 pts (91.6%) vs 71 pts (98.6%) (NS). 70 (99%) elderly pts considered this method most valuable and would undergo this procedure eagerly again, if necessary. During the observation 21 (29.6%) elderly pts required hospitalization because of the chest pain, 2 pts (2.8%) had nonfatal myocardial infarction and 3 pts (4.2%) underwent surgical revascularisation (CABG). In the control group 12 pts (16.4%) were re-hospitalized, 1 pt (1.4%) required CABG and no acute cardiac events were observed. Smoking was continued significantly more frequently in the younger pts: 12 (16.4%) vs 2 (2.8%) p = 0.05. 72 (98.6%) younger pts and 60 (84.5%) elderly pts reported regular cholesterol level control (NS). Our data suggest that PTCA in elderly pts with symptomatic coronary artery disease, is well tolerated and reflects positively in their quality of life after the procedure.