[Acute coronary syndrome: guidelines and geriatrics specificity].

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction without ST elevation and myocardial infarction with ST elevation. ACS is more frequent in the elderly than in the general population and is associated with very high morbidity and mortality. As older individuals are often excluded from clinical trials, the geriatrician needs to take care of these subjects without specific guidelines. Although older subjects (or very old subjects) represent a group at high risk of complications, they would benefit most of an aggressive coronary revascularisation procedure. Given the current state of knowledge, biological age itself should not be the only limiting criteria when considering an invasive coronary procedure, but the existing quality of life and physical conditions of the individual should also be taken into account in the global management strategy.