Related prognostic factors in elderly patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

The objective of this study was to evaluate variables related to intra hospital mortality at 28 days, of aged persons with severe sepsis and septic shock in a clinical ICU.

One hundred and fifty-two patients aged > 65 years with severe sepsis and septic shock were followed for 28 days and the variables were collected on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 of stay. To compare categorical variables the Chi-square test was used and the Mann-Whitney or t test for continuous variables. All tests were double-tailed, alpha error of 0.05.

Mean age was 82.0 ± 9.0 years and 64.5% were female. Mortality was of 47.4%. Related to death were the following: Acute Physiological and Chronic Heath Evaluation II score (p < 0.001), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score on days 1, 3, 5, 7 (p < 0.001), length of stay in intensive care (p < 0.001), number of organ failures (p < 0.001), high serum lactate on day 3 (p = 0.05), positive troponin I (p < 0.01), echocardiographic variables (systolic diameter p = 0.005; diastolic diameter p = 0.05; shortening fraction p = 0.02), previous renal disease (p = 0.03), shock (p < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001) and Lawton scale (p = 0.04).

Shock, elevated lactate, organ failure, especially respiratory were more prevalent in non-survivors. Heart dysfunction detected by echocardiographic variables and positive troponin I may play an important role in the mortality of aged patients with sepsis.