Epidemiology of Elderly Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit for Severs Medical Illnesses

Abstract

Objectives: This study was made to identify the epidemiological data of elderly patients (over 65 years of age) vs. younger patients (< 65 years) requiring admission to the intensive care unit for severs medical illnesses. Design and patients: We conducted an analysis of a prospective observational study of 106 adults admitted to the intensive care unit for severs medical illnesses, from January 2010 to January 2012. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit for surgical illnesses were excluded. Setting: A 6-bed polyvalent intensive care unit in a regional hospital. Results: The study group included 31(29%) elderly patients (≥65 years of age) and 75 (71%) young patients (<65 years of age) (n=106). Elderly patients tended to have a higher simplified acute physiology score version II in admission (36 vs 21, p<0,001). There were several epidemiological differences between the two groups: Chronic diseases were more frequent in elderly patients than in younger one (diabetes (55% vs 20%; p<0,001), high blood pressure (45% vs 13%; p<0,001) and heart diseases (48% vs 19%; p=0,002). Elderly patients were significantly more hospitalized for delirium comparing to younger one (87% vs 64%; p=0,017), but dyspnea was less percepted by elderly patients 29% vs 55% for younger patients, p=0,016. Acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute heart failure, acute kidney injury, were all more frequent in elderly patients respectively (p= 0,006, p=0,014, p=0,005). The incidence of death was 37% for all patients and it was similar between the two groups (p=0,251). Conclusion: The identification of epidemiology of older patients hospitalized in intensive care unit for severs medical illnesses will help to develop qualified practice. Further studies are needed to better characterize those elderly individuals who may be at the highest risk of complications.