BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) are a common condition and cause of death in the elderly population. There are difficulties with risk assessment in the elderly as the objectification of their symptomatic status can be challenging due to neuromuscular weakness, physical deconditioning or neurological, orthopaedic, peripheral vascular, or respiratory limitations. Non-invasive coronary artery velocity assessment by Doppler method at rest could be helpful in the elderly population. To evaluate the prognostic role of coronary artery ultrasound assessment in a non-selected elderly population in everyday clinical practice. METHODS: One hundred forty-five patients, aged ≥75years (99 women; 80 ± 4 years), formed the study group. Left coronary artery flows were scanned in addition to conventional echocardiography. During a median follow-up of 26 months, 16 deaths and 2 non-fatal MI occurred. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, maximal coronary velocity was the only independent predictor for mortality (heart rate [HR]: 1.02, 95%, CI: 1.01-1.04, p < .0005) and for mortality/MI (HR: 1.02, 95%, CI: 1.01-1.03, p < .0001). The value of 110 cm/s maximal coronary flow velocity (CFL) in the proximal segments of left arteries was the best predictor for death, sensitivity 50%, specificity 90%, p < .005. The annual mortality rate was 16.6% persons/year for patients with elevated CFL ≥110 cm/s. The value 81 cm/s was the best predictor for death/MI, sensitivity 61%, specificity 80%, p < .0005; annual mortality rate was 11.2% persons/year for patients with elevated CFL ≥81 cm/s (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Doppler CFL scanning during routine echocardiography is a feasible and valuable tool for assessment of short-term prognosis in elderly patients.

1st Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine Comenius University and University Hospital Bratislava Slovakia

2nd Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and St Annés University Hospital Brno Czech Republic

Cardiology Department Cardiocenter Medika St Petersburg Russian Federation

Cardiology Department Saint Petersburg State University Hospital St Petersburg Russian Federation

Cardiology Department University of Defence Brno Czechia

Department of General Medicine Faculty of Medicine Slovak Medical University Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Nutrition Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies Slovak Medical University Bratislava Slovakia

Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ss Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Trnava Slovakia

Faculty of Medicine University of Oviedo and Central University Hospital of Asturias Oviedo Spain

International Clinical Research Centre St Anne's University Hospital and Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Research and Development Services Brno Czech Republic

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