Outcomes of older people receiving intensive care in Victoria

Abstract

Objective: To assess trends in service use and outcome of critically ill older people (aged ≥ 65 years) admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Design, patients and setting: Retrospective cohort analysis of administrative data on older patients discharged from ICUs at all 23 adult public hospitals with onsite ICUs in Victoria between 1 July 1999 and 30 June 2011. Subgroups examined included those aged ≥ 80 years, major diagnosis categories, and those receiving mechanical ventilation. Main outcome measures: Resource use and hospital survival; also length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination trends. Results: Over 12 years, 108 171 people aged ≥ 65 years were admitted to ICUs; of these, 49..