Coronary events in persons aged 75 years or older in Finland from 1995 to 2002: the FINAMI study

The authors used population-based myocardial infarction (MI) register data to examine trends in incidence, case fatality, treatment strategies of MI, and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in persons aged 75 to 99 years in 4 areas of Finland during 1995 through 2002. This age group contributed 53% (n=13,977) of all CHD events, and 65% occurred in women. CHD mortality declined among men annually by 3.5% and 1.0% in the 75- to 84-year-old and 85- to 99-year-old age groups, respectively. Among women, it declined by 2.2% per year in the 75- to 84-year-old age group but increased by 1.3% per year in the 85- to 99-year-old age group. MI attack rate did not change in men but increased significantly in women aged 85 to 99 years. Clinical management of MI in elderly patients was more conservative than in middle-aged patients. In conclusion, one-half of all CHD events occur among persons aged 75 years or older, and elderly patients with CHD represent an increasing burden to the health care system.