Critically ill patients with cirrhosis show a poorer prognosis. A retrospective cohort study investigated the influence of age (< 65 years, 65-74 years, and >/= 75 years) on the short- and medium-term outcomes of cirrhotic patients in the intensive-care unit (ICU) setting.

The following observations were made-

• 4%, 20.0%, and 30.3%, overall ICU mortality was described in patients aged < 65 years, 65-74 years, and >/=75 years respectively. 
• In compensated cirrhosis patients, age was not significantly correlated with mortality or clinical outcomes. 
• In decompensated cirrhosis patients, age >/= 75 years was found to be significantly associated with in-hospital mortality, 6-month mortality, hospital days as well as hospital-free days. 

Furthermore, age >/= 75 years also was significant for in-hospital mortality and 6-month mortality after adjusting for sex, coronary artery disease, etiology of ICU admission, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score as well as mechanical ventilation.

Thus it was concluded that old age does not have adverse effects on ICU mortality, ventilator-free days, ICU days, or ICU-free days in cirrhotic patients (either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis) during ICU stays, while age >/= 75 years presents as an independent prognostic factor for in-hospital mortality and 6-month mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis following ICU discharge.

Source: International Journal of Gerontology, 2015;9. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijge.2014.10.003