Cumulative incidence of death and rehospitalization among the elderly in the first year after NSTEMI

Background Age is associated with outcomes in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; however, less is known about rehospitalization or death among elderly survivors. We aimed to evaluate mortality and cause-specific rehospitalization rates in this growing population of older adults with ischemic heart disease. Methods We linked 36,711 patients aged ≥65 years who survived an index non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from the CRUSADE registry to Medicare claims data for follow-up. One-year survival estimates were compared by age group - 65-79, 80-84, 85-89, and ≥90 years - and Cox models were used to analyze the association between age and 1-year mortality. Results Death at 1 year increased markedly with age (from 13.3% for 65-79 years to 45.5% for ≥90 years). In contrast, rehospitalization rates at 1 year were similar and high across ages (65-79 years, 52.7%; ≥90 years, 56.5%), with nearly as many noncardiovascular-related as cardiovascular-related rehospitalizations. At 1 year, nonagenarians had substantially higher rates of death with or without preceding rehospitalization and twice the adjusted mortality than the group aged 65-79 years. Conclusions Evolving care delivery models should consider the high mortality in older adults after a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Contrary to expectations, rehospitalization rates do not rise substantially with advancing age, and rehospitalization is often for noncardiac diagnoses.