Permanent pacemaker implantation in patients over 80 years of age

During the past five years, 150 pacemaker implantations have been done at Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital for the treatment of atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, or slow heartbeat with atrial fibrillation. The patients were divided into two groups by age: the older group of 18 patients over 80 years of age and the younger group of 132 patients under 79 years of age. A comparative study of these two groups was undertaken with respect to pre- and postoperative courses, underlying diseases, cardiac output at variable pacing rate, capture threshold, and prognosis. The older group has as satisfactory a course as the younger group. Seventeen patients out of 18 (94%) in the older group are leading normal productive lives at this writing, and 119 out of 132 (89%) in the younger group are also doing well. In the light of this five-year comparative study, it can be concluded that it is safe and rewarding to implant prosthetic cardiac pacemakers in symptomatic patients over 80 years of age.