Vallet H, Riou B, Boddaert J
Unité périopératoire gériatrique, service de gériatrie, hôpitaux universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles-Foix, DHU FAST, AP-HP, Paris, France; UMR Inserm 1135, Sorbonne universités, UPMC université Paris 6, Paris, France.
UMR Inserm 1166, IHU ICAN, Sorbonne universités, UPMC université Paris 6, Paris, France; Service d'accueil des urgences, hôpitaux universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles-Foix, DHU FAST, AP-HP, Paris, France.
Rev Med Interne. 2017 Nov;38(11):760-765. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2017.01.014. Epub 2017 Feb 16.
The global population is aging and intensive care unit admission rate of elderly patients is dramatically increasing. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the literature about the management of elderly patients in intensive care unit and more specifically about epidemiology, admission criteria, mortality, functional prognosis and ethical aspects. We also discuss the data on cardiorespiratory arrest, shock, acute respiratory failure and delirium. The mortality rate of patients over 80 years old in intensive care unit can reach up to 70% at 1year, but is dependent on many factors, such as comorbidities or frailty. Above all, more than half of elderly patients recover their long-term autonomy. Their quality of life is comparable to that of the same age population. Considering that the first 3months after an intensive care unit stay are the most decisive in terms of vital and functional prognosis, we will discuss strategies to improve care through the creation of dedicated intensive care-geriatrics networks.
