Researchers have found an optimal time frame for scheduling surgeries after a heart attack to reduce complications. Delaying elective surgeries for elderly cardiac patients who had a heart attack can decrease the risk of life-threatening complications such as heart attacks and strokes. Current guidelines recommend waiting two months before elective surgeries, but new research suggests waiting three to six months may be safer. The study analyzed insurance data of over 5 million major non-cardiac surgeries on patients aged 67 and older, with over 42,000 having experienced a heart attack. Most complications occur within the first 30 days post-surgery, but risk decreases after 90 days.
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