Analysis of prognosis factors in elderly patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation

Objective] To investigate prognostic factors in elderly patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation. [Methods] Retrospective study were made in 52 elderly patients receiving ≥7 days of mechanical ventilation from April 2001 to October 2003. Admitting clinical and physiological parameters were analyzed by Logistic regression methods. [Results] Of the patients enrolled in the study, 31 cases(59.6%)died in the hospital and 21 (40.4%)were survival. Differences in central venous pressure (CVP), level of plasma albumin and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score between survivors and nonsurvivors were significant ( P 0.05). Performing tracheotomy were also significantly difference between two groups ( P 0.05). With multiple logistic regressions, higher ALB level ( P =0.01; OR 0.77; 95% confidence interval: 0.67～ 0.87) were independent predictors of benignantly outcome. [Conclusions] elderly LTMV patients should be considered in higher risk for death. Serum albumin level and undergoing tracheotomy were major prognosis factors; these relevant characteristics should be evaluated before mechanical ventilation.