Impact of multimorbidity on long-term outcomes in older adults with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome in the North East of England: a multi-centre cohort study of patients undergoing invasive care

Benjamin Beska, Greg B Mills, Hanna Ratcovich, Chris Wilkinson, Abdulla A Damluji, Vijay Kunadian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Older adults have a higher degree of multimorbidity, which may adversely affect longer term outcomes from non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). We investigated the impact of multimorbidity on cardiovascular outcomes 5 years after invasive management of NSTE-ACS.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Multicentre study conducted in the north of England.

PARTICIPANTS: 298 patients aged ≥75 years with NSTE-ACS and referred for coronary angiography, with 264 (88.0%) completing 5-year follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multimorbidity was evaluated at baseline with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). The primary composite outcome was all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, urgent repeat revascularisation or significant bleeding.

RESULTS: Mean age was 80.9 (±6.1) years. The cohort median CCI score was 5 (IQR 4-7). The primary composite outcome occurred in 48.1% at 5 years, at which time 31.0% of the cohort had died. Compared with those with few comorbidities (CCI score 3-5), a higher CCI score (≥6) was positively associated with the primary composite outcome (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.64 (95% CI 1.14 to 2.35), p=0.008 adjusted for age and sex), driven by an increased risk of death (aHR 2.20 (1.38 to 3.49), p=0.001). For each additional CCI comorbidity, on average, there was a 20% increased risk of the primary composite endpoint at 5 years (aHR 1.20 (1.09 to 1.33), p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with NSTE-ACS referred for coronary angiography, the presence of multimorbidity is associated with an increased risk of long-term adverse cardiovascular events, driven by a higher risk of all-cause mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01933581; ClinicalTrials.gov.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere061830
Number of pages10
JournalBMJ Open
Volume12
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jul 2022

Bibliographical note

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022

Keywords

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome/epidemiology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Humans
  • Multimorbidity
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

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