Older people have a reduced chance of surviving lung injury, but they can recover, given ventilator treatment.

We already know that older people are more susceptible to lung problems that leave them needing the help of a ventilator. What's not been clear is whether they do as well with treatment as those who are younger. A new study suggests that age is indeed a factor in the outcome.

Researchers in the US have studied 902 people needing treatment by ventilator for acute lung problems. Those with heart failure were not included in the study. They found that 70 per cent of those under 70 left hospital alive within 180 days, but the figure fell to 40 per cent for those over 70. The older patients needed more time on the ventilator and longer in intensive care. And the survival rate tended to decrease with each decade of age.

The researchers conclude that age should not be a factor in deciding whether a patient needs a ventilator. But more effort needs to be made to improve the outcome after lung injury in the older patient.

Source

Annals of Internal Medicine January 1 2002