Optimal Sedation in Older Critically Ill Adults

The global population is aging with a concurrent increase in the proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) patients 65 years of age or greater. These older adults often present with geriatric syndromes that increase their vulnerability to critical illness and predispose them to poor short- and long-term outcomes. Sedation exposure in these patients is often necessary but carries risk. In this review, the authors summarize geriatric principles pertinent to an ICU clinician. Then, sedation choices, strategies, and adjuncts that decrease exposure and potentially improve short- and long-term outcomes are discussed.