title: Acute respiratory failure in the elderly.
abstract: With the current epidemiology of a growing advanced-age population and the specificities of critical illness in elderly patients, studies on this topic are appropriate. We need more clinical trials and evaluations of diagnostic and management procedures applied in the elderly, as well as studies designed to identify prognostic factors for inhospital mortality or mortality in the intensive care unit in the elderly. Studies evaluating long-term outcomes, including quality of life and costs, are also needed to try to define realistic goals for patients, families and physicians.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris and Faculté René Descartes Paris 5, Paris, France. jean-yves.fagon@egp.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fagon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*