Background: Risk stratification is essential for the clinical decision-making process in elderly patients undergoing multivessel revascularization, since the optimal revascularization strategy remains subject of ongoing debate.
Aims: To assess the prognostic value of angiographic versus clinical characteristics for the prediction of a first adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and target lesion revascularization) and to develop a combined risk model.
Methods: After multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MV-PCI), SYNTAX score and EuroSCORE were calculated as combined risk model in 328 elderly patients who were followed up for a first MACCE.
Results: 328 patients with a mean age of 77.5 ± 5.1 years were followed up for 2.7 ± 1.5 years. A first MACCE occurred in 50.0 % (164/328) of the patients. To improve predictability, a combined risk score model with receiver operating characteristic curve validated cut-off values for EuroSCORE (>5 %) and SYNTAX score (>25) was developed. High risk patients had a 3.5-fold higher risk for MACCE after 3 years (HR 7.1, 95 % CI 1.9-6.5; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: For adequate risk assessment in elderly patients undergoing MV-PCI, consideration of both comorbidities and coronary anatomic complexity is essential. A combined angiographic and clinical risk score provides superior prediction of 3-year MACCE risk in elderly patients.