Intensive care for very elderly patients: outcome and risk factors for in-hospital mortality

Objectives: to evaluate outcome and risk factors, particularly the Acute Ph ysiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system, for in-h ospital mortality in very elderly patients after admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: retrospective chart review of patients greater than or equal to 85 years admitted to the ICU. We recorded age, sex, previous medical history, primary diagnosis, date of admission and discharge or death, APACHE II sco re on admission, use of mechanical ventilation and inotropics, and complica tions during ICU admission. Results: 104 patients greater than or equal to 85 years (1.3% of all ICU ad missions) were studied. The ICU and in-hospital mortality rates for these p atients were 22 and 36% respectively. Factors correlated with a greater in- hospital mortality were: an admission diagnosis of acute respiratory failur e (chi(2); P = 0.007), the use of mechanical ventilation (chi(2); P = 0.000 05) and inotropes (chi(2); P = 0.00001), complications during ICU admission (chi(2); P = 0.004), in particular acute renal failure (chi(2); P = 0.005) , and an APACHE II score greater than or equal to 25 (chi(2); P = 0.001). T he APACHE II scoring system and the use of inotropes were independently cor related with mortality. Conclusion: ICU and in-hospital mortality are higher in very elderly patien ts, particularly in those with an APACHE II score greater than or equal to 25. The most important predictors of mortality ape the use of inotropes and the severity of the acute illness.