Mortality, level of dependence, and perception of the experience in elderly patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation

Introduction: Elderly patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) face intense symptoms, associated with increasedmortality and physical, psychological, and cognitive sequelae. Prognostic factors, such as advanced age and time on mechanical ventilation play a crucial role in this challenging scenario. Objectives: To assess the impact and degree of dependence on prolonged mechanical ventilation in elderly patients, after discharge from the ICU. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 164 patients aged 60 years or over, who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation for 14 days or more between January and October 2021. Results: In-hospital mortality was 70.7%, increasing to 74.4% after 12 months, showing a significant correlation with age (p = 0.032). Moreover, 54.3% of patients showed a worsening in functional dependence after one year (p < 0.0001). Notably, the majority of survivors (91.4%) expressed their willingness to undergo mechanical ventilation again if necessary. Discussion: The results point to high persistent mortality and functional impairment in elderly patients even one year after discharge from the ICU. Despite these adversities, most survivors reported that the invasive treatment was worth it.