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The 30-day mortality for patients < 65 years of age who are diagnosed with and treated for acute MI is 3%. In contrast, the 30-day mortality for patients > 85 years of age who are diagnosed with and treated for acute MI is 30%! Obviously the mortality is far higher if the patient's diagnosis is delayed or missed; or if the patient is not treated appropriately.
This simple statistic highlights the critical importance of being aggressive with diagnostic and therapeutic planning for elder patients with potential ACS. We cannot afford to be cavalier in their evaluation or treatment.