Analysis of intensive care unit admissions for older adults with femoral fractures: a retrospective cohort

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the historical series of admissions to the Intensive Care Unit of older adults with femoral fractures, and verify the association between age and injury characteristics and treatment, nursing workload, severity, and clinical evolution in the unit. Method: Retrospective cohort of 295 older adults (age ≥60 years) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in São Paulo, between 2013 and 2019, and who presented with a femur fracture as the main cause of hospitalization. Variables regarding demographic characteristics, cause, and type of fracture, treatment provided, severity, nursing workload, and medical outcome of patients were analyzed. The Shapiro-Wilk, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis tests and Pearson correlation were applied. Results: There was an increase in older adults admission to the Intensive Care Unit from 2017 on. Female patients with distal femur fractures who died in the Intensive Care Unit had significantly (p < 0.05) higher median age than men, patients with shaft or proximal femur fractures, and survivors. Conclusion: The study findings highlight essential information for structuring care for older adults with femoral fractures who require intensive care.