Purpose: Ever-increasing noncardiac surgeries are performed in patients aged 80 years or over with coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of the study was to explore the incidence and risk factors of perioperative cardiac complications (PCCs) for the oldest-old patients with CAD undergoing noncardiac surgery, which have not been evaluated previously.
Patients and Methods: A total of 547 patients, aged over 80 years, with a history of CAD who underwent noncardiac surgery were enrolled in this retrospective study. Perioperative clinical variables were extracted from the electronic medical records database. The primary outcome was the occurrence of PCCs intraoperatively or within 30 days postoperatively, defined as any of the following complications: acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, new-onset severe arrhythmia, nonfatal cardiac arrest, and cardiac death. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate Cox regression model were both performed to estimate the risk factors of PCCs. The incidence of PCCs overtime was illustrated by the Kaplan–Meier curve with a stratified Log-rank test.
Results: One hundred six (19.4%) patients developed at least one PCC, and 15 (2.7%) patients developed cardiac death. The independent risk factors contributing to PCCs were age ≧85 years; body mass index ≧30 kg/m²; the history of angina within 6 months; metabolic equivalents < 4; hypertension without regular treatment; preoperative ST-T segment abnormality; anesthesia time > 3 h and drainage ≧200 mL within 24 h postoperatively.
Conclusion: The incidence of PCCs in elderly patients over 80 years with CAD who underwent noncardiac surgery was high. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation, skilled surgical technique, and regular postoperative monitoring may help to reduce the occurrence of PCCs in this high-risk population.
Keywords: oldest-old, coronary artery disease, noncardiac surgery, perioperative, cardiac complications