Abstract

Mortality rates in geriatric sepsis patients are very high in the intensive care unit. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prognosis of geriatric patients diagnosed with sepsis according to age groups in the intensive care unit. The data of 189 geriatric patients were reviewed retrospectively. Elixhauser Comorbidity index was calculated. The patients were divided into three different age groups young-old (65-74 years), middle-old (75-84 years) and oldest-old (85 years and above). The prognosis was evaluated in patients with Elixhauser Comorbidity index score ≥ 10. The mean length of ICU stays of those aged over 85 years (21.10±23.75) and 75-84 years (17.45±20.59) was compared with that of 65-74-year-old patients (10.23±12.19). Young elderly patients had shorter length of ICU stay than other groups (95% confidence interval) (p=0.01 p0.05). Oldest-old and middle-old patients’ length of stay in the intensive care unit was longer period than young-old patients. Mortality rate in geriatric sepsis patients with Elixhauser Comorbidity Index was greater than 10 is over 70%, but ICU stay did not affect 30-day mortality.

Key words: Geriatrics; sepsis; intensive care units; mortality; comorbidity