Mortality and functional status at one-year of follow-up in elderly patients with prolonged ICU stay.

Abstract Objective To evaluate mortality and functional status at one year of follow-up in patients >75 years of age who survive Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission of over 14 days. Design A prospective observational study was carried out. Setting A Spanish medical–surgical ICU. Patients Patients over 75 years of age admitted to the ICU. Primary variables of interest ICU admission: demographic data, baseline functional status (Barthel index), baseline mental status (Red Cross scale of mental incapacity), severity of illness (APACHE II and SOFA), stay and mortality. One-year follow-up: hospital stay and mortality, functional and mental status, and one-year follow-up mortality. Results A total of 176 patients were included, of which 22 had a stay of over 14 days. Patients with prolonged stay did not show more ICU mortality than those with a shorter stay in the ICU (40.9% vs 25.3% respectively, P  = .12), although their hospital (63.6% vs 33.8%, P P  = .02). Among the survivors, one-year mortality proved similar (87.5% vs 90.6%, P  = .57). These patients presented significantly greater impairment of functional status at hospital discharge than the patients with a shorter ICU stay, and this difference persisted after three months. The levels of independence at one-year follow-up were never similar to baseline. No such findings were observed in relation to mental status. Conclusions Patients over 75 years of age with a ICU stay of more than 14 days have high hospital and one-year follow-up mortality. Patients who survive to hospital admission did not show greater mortality, though their functional dependency was greater.