CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FACTORS AFFECTING MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED TO RESPIRATORY INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Introduction: The number of geriatric patients being followed up in intensivecare units (ICUs) has increased because of increased elderly population in ourcountry and worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the clinical/laboratoryfeatures of patients aged over 65 years hospitalized in respiratory ICUs and toascertain factors affecting mortality.Materials and Method: Patients hospitalized in the respiratory ICU of AdnanMenderes University Medical Faculty between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018were included. Patients aged 65 years and over were classified as the Elderly group,whereas those aged under 65 years were classified as the Non-Elderly group. Thegroups were compared for demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics.Parameters affecting mortality in the Elderly group were also evaluated.Results: The mean age of 57 patients in the Non-Elderly group was 55.15 ±9.57 years, and that of 101 patients in the Elderly group was 76.55 ± 7 years. In theElderly group, urea and creatine levels were higher and pH was lower; the predictedmortality rate and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) IIscore were higher; however, mortality rates were similar. Factors affecting mortalitywere hypoalbuminemia, high APACHE II score, and vasopressor requirement.Conclusion: The albumin level, APACHE II score, and VP requirement are moreimportant for prediction of mortality in respiratory intensive care patients whencompared to age.