Limitation of therapeutic activity in elderly critically ill patients

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Abstract
To establish whether the age of patients admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) influences the amount of therapy received. Observational, prospective, multicenter study. Eighty-six multidisciplinary ICUs in Spain, including coronary patients. The patients (n = 8,838) were studied during a 6-month period between 1992 and 1993. Patients Measurements and Main Results We collected data on age, gender, type of diagnosis at the time of admission, severity level by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and III, quality of life survey score, therapeutic activity during the first 24 hrs by Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System, and ICU and hospital mortality rates. Patients >75 yrs of age represent a large proportion of patients in Spanish ICUs. Although their mortality rate and severity scores were higher than those values in younger patients, patients >75 yrs of age received less therapy. (Crit Care Med 1997; 25:1643-1648)