Stents OK for Elderly, Study Finds

Using stents to open arteries near the heart is safe and effective in elderly people, a study concludes. Researchers looked at data from 10,000 people. All received one or more stents. The stents were coated with a drug to help keep the artery open. People over 70 had about the same results as younger adults. The two groups had similar rates of heart attack, blood clots, or a need for repeat surgery. The study appeared in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. HealthDay News wrote about it June 3.