Effects of Age and Comorbidities on Prognosis and Mortality in Geriatric Patient Groups in İntensive Care

Abstract

Backround: Treatment of geriatric intensive care patients is tiring and difficult for intensive care physicians due to comorbidities, accompanying acute  illnesses and vulnerabilities.

Aim: The aim of our study was to determine other factors affecting mortality and morbidity with age in geriatric intensive  care patients.

Patients and Methods: A total of 937 geriatric intensive care patients were divided into three groups as young-old (65-74 years), middle- old (75-84 years), and oldest-old (85 years and more). Demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and comorbid diseases (oncological malignancy,  chronic renal failure, sepsis, chronic anemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary embolism) were  recorded. The number of patients who needed a mechanical ventilator, developed decubit ulcers, underwent percutaneous tracheostomy, and renal  replacement therapy were recorded. In addition, the number of central venous catheter insertions for patients, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health  Evaluation II scores (APACHE II), hospitalization days, and mortality rates were recorded and compared.

Results: In the comparison between the groups  in terms of gender, in the 65-74 years’ age group, male gender was higher, while in the age group of 85 years and more, the female gender was found to  be statistically higher. Among comorbid diseases, the rate of oncological malignancy was found to be statistically significantly lower in patients aged 85  years and more. Comparing the APACHE II scores of the patients as per the groups, scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the oldest- old group. APACHE II Score, central venous catheter application, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic renal failure, sepsis, oncological  malignancy, and renal replacement therapy were shown to be statistically significant as factors affecting death. The factors affecting the survival or  hospitalization time of the patients of decubit ulcer, mechanical ventilator, percutaneous tracheostomy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Sepsis,  APACHE II Score, and age were shown to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our study showed that not only age has an effect on mortality and  morbidity in geriatric intensive care patients but also comorbidities and intensive care treatments of the patients are also effective in this process.