Management of acute myocardial infarction in the elderly.

Thrombolysis and other new therapies have proved beneficial in elderly patients with myocardial infarction, but are underused in this age group. Because elderly patients are at greater cardiac risk than younger patients, they have more to gain from treatment. However, these treatments may pose more risk for elderly patients. Physicians must constantly assess the elderly patient's risk status and make treatment decisions based on risk-benefit analysis.