Age-Specific Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients Undergoing Myocardial Perfusion...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Geriatrics
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular risk factors exhibit varying age-specific prevalence.
• The age-specific prognostic impact of these risk factors on coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-specific patterns of cardiovascular risk factors.
• To evaluate the prognostic impact of these risk factors on CAD outcomes in relation to patient age.

Main Methods:

• 3667 patients with suspected or known CAD undergoing stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) were analyzed.
• Risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within three years was assessed across three age groups (<59, 59-68, >68 years).
• Multivariable Cox regression analyzed risk factors including demographics, comorbidities, and MPI outcome.

Main Results:

• Three-year MACE risk increased with age (9%, 13%, 18%; p < 0.0001).
• Dyspnea and abnormal MPI outcome were significant risk factors across all ages.
• Diabetes and smoking were significant from age 59+, while hypertension was significant >68 years.

Conclusions:

• The number of risk factors significantly correlates with increased MACE risk with advancing age.
• Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) results are valuable for risk stratification, whereas a personal history of CAD is not.