Assessing the utility of ICU admission for octogenarians

Advanced age is associated with increased severity of acute critical illnesses and admission to ICU. Despite advances in the support for older critically ill patients, the short- and long-term mortality rates remain substantial. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors influencing the outcome of a geriatric population admitted to the ICU.

A single-center, prospective, observational study was conducted among all geriatric patients, 80 years or older, admitted to ICU during a 6-month study period.

Fifty-two patients were admitted. Mean age was 85.1 years (range 80-96), mean APACHE-II score was 24.7 (range 11-40), and mean frailty score was 5.8 (range 3-8). Thirty-nine (75 %) patients received mechanical ventilation, and 31 (59.7 %) were on vasoactive therapy. Twenty-four (46.3 %) patients died during their hospital admission, and 13 (25 %) of them expired in ICU.

Advanced age, needs for vasopressor therapy, and mechanical ventilation are independent predictive factors of adverse outcome. Pre-admission functional status was not independently associated with unfavorable outcome.