Perspectives on Post–Stress Test Decision-Making and Preferred Outcomes Among Older Adults

What are older adults’ perspectives regarding treatment decision-making and outcome preferences after cardiac stress imaging?In a qualitative study of 29 adults aged 75 years or older who recently underwent stress imaging, participants highlighted poor communication with physicians about age-related concerns, expressed a strong preference for quality of life over longevity, and trusted physician and caregiver input in decision-making.These findings suggest that systematically integrating geriatric assessments and goal-setting conversations into shared decision-making after cardiac stress testing may improve care alignment and outcomes for older adults.

Corresponding Author: Krishna K. Patel, MD, MSc, Department of Medicine and Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 419 W 114th St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10025 (krishna.patel5@mountsinai.org).

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