[Acute myocardial infarction in the elderly. The FAST-MI registry]

The FAST-MI 2010 registry collected information on characteristics and management of patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infraction during a one-month period in 213 centers across France, at the end of 2010. Among the 3079 patients included, 31% were aged 75 years or over (25% of those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 38% of those with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction). The clinical profile and risk factors differ in elderly patients, but chest pain remains the most common presenting symptom, although a substantial percentage of patients also present with signs of heart failure. Elderly individuals receive less recommended medications, including reperfusion therapy for STEMI, with the largest difference observed beyond 85 years of age. In-hospital mortality increases with age, particularly after 85 years, but has decreased compared with previous French surveys.