FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PROLONGED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE GERIATRIC POPULATION AND ITS EFFECT ON PATIENT OUTCOMES

Introduction: This research aimed to identify the factors associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation in the growing geriatric patient population in the intensive care unit and to investigate its effect on patient outcomes. Materials-Methods: In this retrospective study, the data of 1,501 patients aged 65 and over who were given mechanical ventilation support in the intensive care unit of a tertiary education and research hospital between January 2013 and January 2021 were obtained and evaluated electronically. Results: Among the 1,501 patients, 1,289 (85.9%) were non-prolonged mechanical ventilation and 212 (14.1%) were prolonged mechanical ventilation. The frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and trauma was found to be higher in the prolonged mechanical ventilation patients (p<0.05). The frequency of pressure wounds, acute kidney injury, and dialysis was higher in the prolonged mechanical ventilation group (p<0.001). The mechanical ventilation pressure and respiratory rate per minute were higher in the prolonged mechanical ventilation patients. Intensive care unit mortality was 45.3% (96) in the prolonged mechanical ventilation patients and 49.9% (643) in the non-prolonged mechanical ventilation patients (p>0.05). The mortality rates of the groups were similar in all admission diagnoses and age categories. A low glasgow coma scale, high partial pressure of carbon dioxide level, use of total parenteral nutrition, pressure sores, development of acute kidney injury, and dialysis were found to be associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Prolonged mechanical ventilation causes morbidity in geriatric patients but is not associated with mortality.