Title: Eugene Braunwald MD
1Thrombolysis and the elderly
- Eugene Braunwald MD
- Professor of Medicine
- Harvard University
- Robert Califf MD
- Professor of Cardiology
- Duke University
- Eric Peterson MD
- Associate Professor of Cardiology
- Duke University
2Thrombolysis and the elderly
- Lack of benefit for thrombolysis in
patients gt 75 years - This retrospective cohort was taken from a
database compiled by the Health Care Financing
Administration (HCFA) for the Cooperative
Cardiovascular Project (CCP) detailing a
nationwide sample of elderly patients with MI. - From 210 996 original patients, a cohort of 5191
patients aged 65-75 and 2673 patients aged 76-86
was obtained. - Among exclusion criteria were the following
direct admission to hospitals with on-site
angioplasty capabilities, inappropriate ECG
criteria on presentation, and contraindications
to thrombolysis.
Thiemann DR, et al. Circulation 20001012239-2246
3An increase in mortality?
Observed 30-day mortality
Age 65-75 Age 65-75 Age 76-86 Age 76-86
without thrombolysis (n1330) with thrombolysis (n3861) without thrombolysis (n1066) with thrombolysis (n1607)
Crude 9.8 6.8 15.4 18.0
Predicted 9.6 7.8 15.3 13.6
predicted in the absence of thrombolysis predicted in the absence of thrombolysis predicted in the absence of thrombolysis predicted in the absence of thrombolysis predicted in the absence of thrombolysis
Thiemann DR, et al. Circulation 20001012239-2246
4Multivariate adjustment
Adjusted hazard ratios for 30-day mortality
after receiving thrombolysis
Age 65-75 (n5113) Age 76-86 (n2634)
First model 0.76 (0.61-0.95) 1.29 (1.06-1.58)
Second model 0.88 (0.69-1.12) 1.38 (1.12-1.71)
second, or comprehensive model, adjusts for multiple variables in addition to those present in the first model second, or comprehensive model, adjusts for multiple variables in addition to those present in the first model second, or comprehensive model, adjusts for multiple variables in addition to those present in the first model
Thiemann DR, et al. Circulation 20001012239-2246
5Increasing hazard with age
Hazard ratios for thrombolytic therapy increase
with increasing age
- Age Hazard ratio 95 CI
-
- 65 0.60 0.44-0.82
- 74.3 1.00
- 80 1.36 1.13-1.64
Thiemann DR, et al. Circulation 20001012239-2246
6Thrombolysis and the elderly
Observational studies
- This study is observational in nature, and not a
substitute for a randomized, controlled, clinical
trial. - In observational studies it is difficult to
adjust for all possible variables and to control
bias. - Observational studies are, when well designed,
able to raise and highlight important questions. - The safety and efficacy of thrombolytics in an
older population (76-86 years old) is indeed an
important question.
Thiemann DR, et al. Circulation 20001012239-2246
7Thrombolysis and the elderly
Observation vs randomization
- Real-world experiences (observational studies)
often tell us things that a randomized clinical
trial cannot. - However, real world experiences can't compare
treatments in high risk groups of patients where
treatment selection is based on major prognostic
factors that are difficult to quantify. - One concern is that such observational studies
may impact clinical practice beyond
reasonableness. - In the world's compilation of placebo vs active
treatment there is a trend toward benefit for
those gt 75 (approximately 2000 patients ).
8Thrombolysis and the elderly
Need for additional studies?
- An observational study is notable because of the
lack of information in gt 75 age group in prior
randomized trials. - Although a trend toward benefit exists in those gt
75 under active treatment (world data), this
trend is a lot less than that seen in younger age
groups. - Earlier thrombolytic trials used different agents
than those studied today. - In performing a randomized controlled trial,
sufficient numbers of patients of age greater
than 75 need to be enrolled.
9The role of observation
If you think about how we accumulate medical
evidence, we first make an observationfrom that
observation you set up a design to study a large
number of patients prospectively. Sometimes the
first observation that youve made bears out in a
trial, and at other times it does not. Dr
Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine Harvard
University
10The role of databases
- Approach databases in a manner similar to that
for the unusual or interesting patient. You may
not be able to draw many conclusions, but you may
glean some hints.
eg, analysis of the database for patients with
rheumatoid arthritis revealed that patients on
ASA had a lower incidence of death from MI large
number of ASA trials in MI prevention and
treatment ASA accepted in MI management
11The ideal patient
- Placebo controlled trials can no longer be
performed with patients who are otherwise ideal
candidates for thrombolytic therapy.
Ideal thrombolysis candidate
50 years old marked ST elevation 45 min crushing chest pain no contraindications to lysis
12Thrombolysis and the elderly
CCP database
- Characteristics of the CCP database
- comorbidity
- some functional status data
- dementia variables
- Variables often provided as yes/no.
- Subtleties are not available in any database,
hence unmeasured confounding is possible.
13SHOCK trial
Methodology
- Patients with MI and left ventricular failure
were randomized to emergency revascularization
(n152) or initial medical stabilization (n150). - Revascularization was defined as either coronary
artery bypass grafting or coronary angioplasty. - The primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day
mortality. - All-cause 6-month mortality and additional
subgroup analyses were investigated. - Mean age of the patients was 66 10 years and
32 were women.
Hochman JS, et al. New Engl J Med 1999341625-634
14SHOCK trial
Results
Overall mortality () Overall mortality () Overall mortality () Overall mortality ()
Revascularization n152 Medical therapy n150 Relative risk (95 CI)
30-day 46.7 56.0 0.83 (0.67-1.04)
6-month 50.3 63.1 0.80 (0.65-0.98)
Mortality in age group gt 75 () Mortality in age group gt 75 () Mortality in age group gt 75 () Mortality in age group gt 75 ()
Revascularization n24 Medical therapy n32 p-value
30-day 75.0 53.1 1.41 (0.95-2.11)
6-month 79.2 56.3 1.41 (0.97-2.03)
Hochman JS, et al. New Engl J Med 1999341625-634
15GUSTO-I trial data
Outcomes in the elderly
- Analysis of the GUSTO-I trial data revealed that
30-day mortality increased markedly with age -
- lt65 n24 708 3.0
- 65 to 74 n11 201 9.5 30-day
- 75 to 85 n4625 19.6 mortality
- gt85 n412 30.3
- Combined death or disabling stroke appeared to
occur less often with TPA than with streptokinase
in all but the oldest patients who demonstrated a
weak trend suggesting a lower incidence with
streptokinase and s/c heparin odds ratio 1.13
95 CI 0.6, 2.1.
White HD, et al. Circulation 1996941826-1833
16Clinical trials in the elderly
Importance in health policy
- The need for ongoing clinical trials in the
elderly is apparent, especially given the aging
of the baby-boomer population. - Although current evidence supports the idea of
giving thrombolysis, specific trials in this age
group become ethical and very important. - The role of percutaneous intervention is also at
issue. - Patients gt 75 make up 1/3 of all patients with
MI, but over 1/2 of all deaths.
17Clinical trials in the elderly
Early hazard with thrombolytics
- 30-day mortality data in a thrombolytic trial of
the elderly may reflect an early hazard due to an
increase in both intracranial hemorrhage and
cardiac rupture. - Benefit might therefore not be seen for 6-12
months.
18Clinical trials in the elderly
General implications
- The establishment of randomized controlled trials
in thrombolysis might aid in informing the
medical community that the elderly are being
undertreated. - Practicing physicians should STOP undertreating
the elderly, and SHOULD continue to look for
opportunities to participate in clinical trials.