Elderly patients make up between 26% and 51% of patients who are admitted to ICUs. The proportion of individuals in North America aged > 65 is projected to increase to 20% of the population by 2026. As population demographics change, and as new technologies, pharmaceuticals, and interventions prolong lives, the proportion of elderly patients admitted to ICUs and surviving ICU stay will continue to increase. Studies that have examined only ICU or hospital survival as an outcome have had variable results. Few studies have demonstrated that elderly ICU patients experience higher mortality rates, while others have demonstrated that age alone, when adjusted for other factors, is not an important prognostic indicator among elderly patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICU). However, age is still used as an important criteria for admission to ICUs. Most studies reviewed have looked at patients sixty-five to ninety years old. To our knowledge only two studies to date have addressed this issue among patients older than 90 to an ICU, both were retrospective.

With increasing age there is a parallel increase in health care costs. The use of expensive technology and procedures in the very elderly is fast becoming a major concern. Data on resource allocation and treatment intensity in the (90+) subgroup is sparse.

Beyond mortality and cost, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a fundamentally important end point of medical care. Few studies have addressed outcomes in terms of HRQOL and functional status of elderly following discharge the from critical care unit. These studies were limited by small number of subjects enrolled, retrospective design, and lack of validated tool to assess HRQOL.

We plan to prospectively collect data to look at determinants of treatment intensity, outcome, and resource allocation in elderly patients ages 65 and above admitted to the ICU with care taken to including as many patients in the age interval above 90 years of age. We will also assess HRQOL and functional status in very elderly patients who survive admission and are discharged from the hospital.