The effects of comorbidity factors on the prognosis in geriatric sepsis patients in the intensive care unit.

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 lenght of ICU stay than other groups (95% confidence interval) (p=0,01 p<0,05). It was found that in terms of length of ICU stay and age did not affect prognosis in the sepsis patients in 3 different geriatric age groups (p>0.05). Oldest-old and middle-old patients' length of stay in the intensive care unit for a longer period than young-old patients. Mortality rate in geriatric sepsis patients with Elixhauser Comorbidity Index greater than 10 is over 70%, but ICU stay did not affect 30-day mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]