Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2026)

Background: The aged population has grown significantly in recent decades, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a primary cause of morbidity and death globally. Many elderly individuals have several cardiovascular risk factors, substantial coronary artery involvement, unique clinical presentations, and an increased risk of consequences. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is commonly utilized to treat IHD, however older patients' results are still of interest.

Objective: To assess in-hospital outcomes of PCI in elderly patients and compare them with outcomes in a younger age group.

Patients and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between January 1, 2021, and January 20, 2022, and included 200 patients with IHD who underwent PCI at four Iraqi cardiovascular centers. Patients were purposively selected and divided into two age-based groups: <70 years (n=100) and ≥70 years (n=100). Baseline demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, angiographic findings, indications for PCI, and in-hospital outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

Results: Age significantly correlated with gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, chronic renal disease, COPD, and past stroke (p≤0.05). Angiographic abnormalities related with older age included left main stem disease (p=0.013) and calcified coronary arteries (p=0.001). NSTEMI was more common in older individuals than STEMI and cardiogenic shock in younger patients. Slow flow phenomena (11%), post-PCI left ventricular dysfunction (11%), and contrast-induced nephropathy (24%), were more common in the elderly. Younger patients had 4% in-hospital mortality and older patients 2%.

Conclusion: Without age restrictions, older patients can have elective and urgent PCI safely. Elderly individuals are more likely to develop contrast-induced nephropathy and post-PCI left ventricular dysfunction, but these risks may be manageable. PCI mortality predictors were comparable in both age groups.