Bridging Care Gaps for Older Women Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Older women exhibit distinct clinical profiles, including higher comorbidity burdens and smaller coronary vessels.
• Post-menopausal hormonal changes in older women contribute to increased procedural complexity and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
• This demographic often undertreats evidence-based therapies, elevating risks for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and bleeding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the specific clinical, pathophysiological, and therapeutic challenges in older women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
• To identify limitations in current risk stratification tools for this population.
• To propose strategies for enhancing outcomes through tailored approaches.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on percutaneous coronary intervention in older women.
• Analysis of clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and therapeutic interventions.
• Evaluation of risk stratification tools and patient-centered care models.

Main Results:

• Older women present with unique physiological factors (e.g., smaller vessels, comorbidities) complicating PCI.
• Suboptimal utilization of evidence-based therapies is prevalent, leading to increased MACE and bleeding risks.
• Existing risk stratification tools may not adequately capture the complexities of this population.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the unique challenges of older women in PCI requires tailored procedural techniques and patient-centered care.
• Improving guideline adherence and risk assessment is crucial for better cardiovascular outcomes.
• Further research is needed to optimize the management of older women undergoing interventional cardiology procedures.