[Coronary dilatation in geriatric patients--indications and results]

Therapy of coronary artery disease in elderly patients will gain in importance due to the demographic changes in industrialized societies. In our own institution 6.5% of all dilated patients were over 70 years of age in 1989, compared to 17.5% in 1995. Elderly patients were more likely to be women and to have unstable angina or multivessel disease. Primary success rates in elderly and younger patients are comparable. The current 3-year survival rate of 84 patients > or = 70 years of age is 92.9%. Long-term follow-up is primarily influenced by non-cardiac comorbidity. In conclusion, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) results in a symptomatic improvement in elderly patients with single-vessel and most patients with multivessel disease.