title: Critical Care Issues of the Geriatric Patient.
abstract: Medical care of the geriatric patient is an important area of focus as the population ages and life expectancy increases. In particular, critical care of the geriatric patient will be especially affected, because geriatric patients will consume most critical care beds in the future and subsequently require increased use of resources. This review focuses on the physiologic effects of aging on all body systems. Focus on frailty and its effect on recovery from critical illness and its potential to modify the course of patient care will be important areas of research in the future.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors: Maurice F
authors: MF
authors: Joyce
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: jreich@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors: John Adam
authors: JA
authors: Reich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000639:trends*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D005791:Patient Care
keywords: End-of-life care; Frailty; Geriatric critical care; Physiologic effects of aging