Incidence and prognostic value of bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients older than 75 years of age

Objectives We aimed to assess the impact of bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the outcome of patients >75 years of age. Background Limited information exists on the impact of post-PCI bleeding on the outcome in elderly patients. Methods This study included 3,255 patients >75 years of age. Bleeding events were assessed using the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Results Within 30 days after PCI, bleeding occurred in 501 patients (15.4%). Bleeding according to BARC was: class 1 (170 patients; 33.9%), class 2 (81 patients; 16.2%), class 3a (177 patients; 35.3%), class 3b (65 patients; 13.0%), class 3c (four patients; 0.8%), and class 4 (four patients; 0.8%). There were 201 deaths within the first year after PCI: 61 deaths (12.3%) among bleeders and 140 deaths (5.1%) among nonbleeders (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-2.91, P < 0.001). Bleeding improved the discriminatory power of multivariable model for mortality prediction (P = 0.001). Female sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.49 [1.17-1.88], P = 0.001) and reduced renal function (adjusted OR = 1.30 [1.04-1.63], P = 0.019 for each 30 ml/min decrease in the creatinine clearance) were independent associates of increased bleeding risk. Bivalirudin reduced the bleeding risk by 24% compared with unfractionated heparin and 33% compared with abciximab plus unfractionated heparin. Conclusions Post-PCI bleeding is an important prognostic factor in patients >75 years of age. The risk for bleeding in this age category is increased in women and patients with impaired renal function. Bleeding risk is reduced by bivalirudin.