Infectious Disease Emergencies in Older Adults in India: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Youngest Old,...

Infections remain a common cause of emergency department (ED) admissions in older adults, particularly in low and middle-income countries. This study investigates the clinical and microbiological spectrum and outcomes of infection-related emergencies in older adults in North India, comparing the youngest old (65-74 years), middle old (75-84 years), and oldest old (≥85 years) patients.

This prospective observational study included older patients (≥65 years) with community-acquired infections admitted to the medical ED of a tertiary care academic hospital in North India from June 2023 to May 2024. Patients with hospital-acquired infections, including those that developed during prior admissions at referring hospitals, were excluded.

We enrolled 300 patients (mean age 74.2 years, 51% males), including 164 youngest old, 92 middle old, and 44 oldest old. The most prevalent infections were pneumonia (39.3%), urinary tract infection (UTI) (13.3%), cholangitis (9.3%), and tuberculosis (7.7%). Microbiological confirmation was achieved in 37.3%, with frequent isolation of drug-resistant organisms such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecium. The oldest old group presented more acutely with severe illness and had a higher incidence of pneumonia (56.8%), lower UTI rates (2.3%), and fewer microbiological diagnoses (13.6%). In-hospital mortality was 32.0%, highest in pneumonia (47.1%) and tuberculosis (47.8%), and lowest in UTI (14.7%). Baseline Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)-II score independently predicted mortality (OR 1.081, 95% CI: 1.013-1.153, p = 0.019).

Infection-related emergencies in older adults, especially the oldest old, pose diagnostic challenges and carry high mortality. Pneumonia is a major cause of ED admission and death among older adults in India.

Kadar H, Erla SR, Angrup A, Bhatia M, Sharma N, Pannu AK. Infectious Disease Emergencies in Older Adults in India: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Youngest Old, Middle Old, and Oldest Old Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2025;29(7):569-577.