Materials and Method: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from our ICU patient database was performed. Data were obtained for 780 adult admissions for ≥24 hours between April 1, 2007 and April 1, 2009.
Results: A total of 260 elderly patients (33.3%) were admitted during the study. ICU mortality for this group was 48.8%. Advanced age (≥65) was not associated with higher ICU death. Factors associated with decreased survival included greater illness severity, longer stay in the ICU use of advanced life-support measures in the ICU (such as mechanical ventilation, central venous or arterial catheterization and vasoactive and /or inotropic drugs), and differences in some laboratory parameters. The significant differences between old and very old patients were found to be due to gender and comorbidity differences.
Conclusion: The proportion of patients aged ≥65 years old admitted to intensive care is rapidly increasing. Although these patients have more comorbidities and their severity of illness is greater when compared to younger patients, approximately half of the old patients survive to ICU discharge. Our results emphasize that age alone is not a relevant criterion for ICU admission.
Keywords : Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Length of Stay; Intensive Care Units/utilization; Mortality