Outcome of critically ill oldest-old patients (aged 90 and older) admitted to the intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcomes of critically ill oldest-old patients (> or = 90) with those of younger patients.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
General intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital in Athens, Greece.


METHODS
The oldest-old and younger patients.


METHODS
In-hospital and ICU mortality and stay, demographics, comorbidity, and complications.


RESULTS
Of 5,505 consecutive patients admitted to the ICU, 60 (1.1%) were in the oldest-old group (aged 90-98). Their mean length of ICU and hospital stay+/-standard deviation was 5.3+/-6.8 and 23.3+/-35.7 days, respectively. ICU mortality was 20%. Total in-hospital mortality was 40%, compared with 8.9% (P=.001) in younger patients. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio=1.18, 95% confidence interval=1.05-1.33). Of 24 oldest-old patients who died, 22 (91.7%) died in the ICU or in the ward within 30 days after ICU discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
All-cause in-hospital mortality was higher in the oldest-old group than in younger patients, but the mortality of this cohort of patients did not seem to reach a figure that would make physicians, relatives, and healthcare administrators decide against ICU care in this population.
Rellos
Konstantinos
K
Intensive Care Unit, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Falagas
Matthew E
ME
Vardakas
Konstantinos Z
KZ
Sermaides
George
G
Michalopoulos
Argyris
A
D018806:APACHE; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome