Retrospective Analysis of Cost and Factors Affecting Mortality in Elderly Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

The older population of the world continues to grow. Currently, 8.5% of people worldwide are above 65 years, leading to an increased frequency of intensive care unit admission. This study aimed to assess the cost and factors affecting mortality in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged over 65 years admitted to the tertiary intensive care unit. The demographics including age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, Glasgow coma scale scores, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II, the Charlson comorbidity index scores, diagnosis, blood gas analysis results, type of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), time of death and cost of ICU stay were obtained from the government electronic mortality declaration system. Results: This study evaluated 1401 patients with a mean age of 75.73 ± 6.92, where the mean BMI was 25.31 ± 7.03. Most of the patients (n=714, 51%) belonged to the 65-75 years old group while 569 (40.6%) belonged to the 75-85 years old group and 118 (8.4%) were over 85 years old. Mortality rates were the following: 28-day mortality rate, 41.7%; 1-year mortality rate, 66.4% and 2-year mortality rate, 75%. The mean cost of ICU stay was 7992.95 ± 10166.33 ₺, and the mean cost of hospital stay was 8211.28 ± 10172.41 ₺. Conclusion: It is shown that comorbidities increased as age advanced, and sepsis remains the leading cause of death in short-term and long-term periods in the elderly population admitted to the ICU.