Outcomes of critically ill elderly patients admitted to Geriatrics Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

The world’s population is ageing. Virtually every country in the world is experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population (UNDESA, 2017). The number of older persons is expected to more than double by 2050 and to more than triple by 2100. Globally, population aged 60 or over is growing faster than all younger age groups (UNDESA, 2017). Ageing of the population increases the proportion of people with chronic conditions, with corresponding expectations of eventual decline in function (Wood and Ely, 2003). As the population ages, intensive care units (ICUs) are confronted with increasing demand, with elderly patients now representing up to 20–30% of all ICU admissions (Docherty et al., 2016). Elderly patients usually have decreased functional reserves and multiple comorbidities. Older patients are more likely to be died and discharge to nursing hospital or homes (Bagshaw et al., 2009).