[Bleeding risk and acute coronary syndromes in the elderly]

Bleeding has recently emerged as an important factor in the management and outcome of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), particularly in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous invasive revascularization. There is evidence that patients who experience major bleeding in the acute phase of ACS are at a higher risk of death or a new infarct in the following months, although the causal nature of this relationship is controversial. In this short review we present the different definitions of bleeding, recommended strategies for the treatment of non ST elevation ACS, predictors of bleeding, and therapeutic options for reducing this risk in elderly patients.