The Effect of Aging Physiology on Critical Care

Older patients experience a decline in their physiologic reserves as well as chronic low-grade inflammation named “inflammaging.” Both of these contribute significantly to aging-related factors that alter the acute, subacute, and chronic response of these patients to critical illness, such as sepsis. Unfortunately, this altered response to stressors can lead to chronic critical illness followed by dismal ou tcomes and death. The primary goal of this review is to briefly highlight age-specific changes in physiologic systems majorly affected in critical illness, especially because it pertains to sepsis and trauma, which can lead to chronic critical illness and describe implications in clinical management .

Source: Critical Care Clinics - October 28, 2020 Category: Intensive Care Authors: Dijoia B. Darden, Frederick A. Moore, Scott C. Brakenridge, Eduardo B. Navarro, Stephen D. Anton, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Lyle L. Moldawer, Alicia M. Mohr, Philip A. Efron, Robert T. Mankowski Source Type: research