Frailty predicts major bleeding within 30days in elderly patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Bleeding in ACS patients is an independent marker of adverse outcomes. Its prognostic impact is even worse in elderly population. Current bleeding risk scores include chronological age but do not consider biologic vulnerability. No studies have assessed the effect of frailty on major bleeding. The aim of this study is to determine whether frailty status increases bleeding risk in patients with ACS. METHODS: This prospective and observational study included patients aged ≥75years admitted due to type 1 myocardial infarction. Exclusion criteria were severe cognitive impairment, impossibility to measure handgrip strength, cardiogenic shock and limited life expectancy due to oncologic diseases. The primary endpoint was 30-day major bleeding defined as a decrease of ≥3g/dl of haemoglobin or need of transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients were included. Frail patients (72, 37.9%) were older, with higher comorbidity features and with a higher CRUSADE score at admission. On univariate analysis, frailty predicted major bleeding during 30-day follow-up despite less frequent use of a P2Y12 inhibitor (66.2% vs 83.6%, p=0.007) and decreased catheterisation rate (69.4% vs 94.1%, p<0.001). Major bleeding was associated with increased all-cause mortality at day 30 (18.2% vs 2.5%, p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, frailty was an independent predictor for major bleeding. CONCLUSION: Frailty phenotype, as a marker of biological vulnerability, is an independent predictor of major bleeding in elderly patients with ACS. Frailty can play an important role in bleeding risk stratification and objective indices should be integrated into routine initial evaluation of these patients.

Frailty is a short-term prognostic marker in acute coronary syndrome of elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a biological condition that reflects a state of decreased physiological reserve and vulnerability to stressors. The role of frailty in acute coronary syndrome patients has not been fully explored. Our study aims to assess the prevalence of frailty and its impact on in-hospital adverse outcomes of patients aged ⩾75 years admitted for acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: This prospective, observational study included patients aged ⩾75 years admitted due to type 1 myocardial infarction in four tertiary hospitals. Frailty was assessed by the SHARE-FI index. The primary endpoint was the combination of in-hospital death or non-fatal myocardial (re)infarction. Secondary endpoints included the assessment of individual rates of (re)infarction, mortality, stroke, major bleeding and the combination of in-hospital death, (re)infarction and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients were analysed. Frail patients (n=71, 35.1%) were older, more often women, had higher rates of comorbidities, and a higher risk profile according to GRACE, TIMI and CRUSADE scores at admission. The primary endpoint was significantly more frequent among frail patients (9.9% vs. 1.5%; P=0.006), as well as the combination of death, myocardial infarction and stroke (11.3% vs. 1.5%; P=0.002), driven mainly by a higher mortality rate (8.5% vs 0.8%; P=0.004). On multivariate analysis, frailty phenotype was an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac events (odds ratio 7.13; 95% confidence interval 1.43-35.42). CONCLUSIONS: Over one third of elderly patients with high-risk acute coronary syndrome are frail. Frailty phenotype is an important and independent prognostic marker in these patients.