Objective To evaluate the retrospective features of elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI),investigate correlation factors for in-hospital death and summarize clinical characteristics of deceased patients in hospital.Methods A total of 428 patients presenting with NSTEMI between Jan 2001 to Apr 2008 were included.Patients were divided into elderly group(≥65 years,n=302) and non-elderly group(<65 years,n=126),32 patients deceased in hospital.Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively,and correlation factors for in-hospital death were evaluated.Results Patients of elderly group were more likely to have history of diabetes mellitus,angina,myocardial infarction,renal function and atypic symptoms compared with non-elderly group,more likely to be with heart function of Killip grades Ⅲ-Ⅳ,and less experienced angiography,P<0.05 for all the above parameters;the age of death group was higher than alive group((76.22±5.02) years vs(68.89±11.9) years,P<0.01),pulmonary infection was the most frequent cause(37.5%) and complication(56.2%) in the death group;multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age(OR 1.095) and Killip grades Ⅲ-Ⅳ(OR 3.418),heart rate(OR 1.073),white blood cell count of peripheral blood(OR 1.213) and level of blood glucose(OR 1.399)on admission have independently correlated with the in-hospital death.Conclusion Patients of elderly group are more likely to have history of diabetes mellitus,angina,myocardial infarction,renal function and atypic symptoms compared with non-elderly group,and they are less experienced angiography;the age of death group is more likely to be higher than alive group,pulmonary infection is the most frequent cause and complication in the death group;age and Killip grades Ⅲ-Ⅳ,heart rate,white blood cell count of peripheral blood,level of blood glucose on admission may be the independent risk factors of in-hospital death of patients with NSTEMI.