J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2013 Mar;17(1):37-40.

Clinical Characteristics of Elderly Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography for Chest Pain

• Kim DH
• Joung HJ
• Kim SY
• Ko WJ
• Jin ES
• Kim CJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Elderly persons are rapidly increasing in Korea. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this age group. In this research, we evaluated the clinical characteristics of the elderly patients presenting chest pain.
METHODS
A total of 471 patients who visited cardiovascular center of Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong for chest pain were reviewed and divided by three groups, via age; under 40, from 40 to 69 and over 70 years old.
RESULTS
The number of patients over 70 years was 142 (30.1%). The proportion of patients diagnosed as having significant, multivessel coronary diseases was higher than that of younger patients (p=0.0002). The rate of atypical chest discomfort presenting as a cardiac symptom was not higher than in the middle-aged group (4.8% vs. 2.1%, p=0.255).
CONCLUSION
In elderly patients, the proportion of female patients and significant multivessel diseases were more common than younger patients.

Keyword

Coronary artery disease; Angina pectoris; Coronary angiography

MeSH Terms

Aged
Angina Pectoris
Cardiovascular Diseases
Chest Pain
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Disease
Female
Humans
Korea
Thorax