Outcomes of critically ill elderly patients

In the December 2015 issue ofHong Kong Medical Journal, Shum et al2 reported the mortality and discharge rate of elderly patients who received intensive care in a much larger sample (150 vs 4226 patients). Ip et al's study 16 years ago had many limitations.1 Nonetheless, further information was collected during the treatment course and revealed some other significant prognostic factors including the number of organ failures and whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed. Apart from mortality, patient morbidities as well as rehabilitation outcome, such as level of self-care function, were studied by Ip et al.1 Many patients survived and resumed an acceptable quality of life.