Geriatrics intensive care unit: Outcome and risk factors for in hospital mortality

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcome and risk factors, particularly the (APATCHE II) score in elderly patients after admission to a geriatrics intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A cross sectional study of patients ≥ 60 years admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Geriatrics department at Ain Shams University Hospital over 2 years period. We recorded age, sex, previous medical history, primary diagnosis, date of admission and discharge or death and APACHE II score on admission. Results: 202 patients admitted to the ICU were studied. The mean ICU mortality rates for these patients were (32, 5%), the mean APATCHE II score was (19.07). 27.3% of patients who died had hypokalemia and 43.2% had hyponatremia. Conclusion: ICU mortality rate are higher in elderly patients particularly with long ICU stay and hyponatremia.