The Impact of Nutritional Status and Complete Blood Count Parameters on Clinical Outcome in Geriatric Critically Ill Patients

BACKGROUND: The geriatric population in intensive care units (ICUs) has recently increased. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of initial complete blood count (CBC)-related parameters and nutritional status on morbidity and mortality in geriatric ICU patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of geriatric patients admitted to our tertiary adult ICU for 1 year. Patients with a length of stay (LOS) of < 48 h, with hematological malignancy or age < 65 years age were excluded from the study. Initial albumin level was considered to reflect nutritional status. The prevelance and risk factors of mortality and microbiologically documented infection (MDI) were analysed. RESULTS: The study included a total of 243 patients with a mean age of 78.96 ± 6.62 years. The overall mortality rate was 40.7%. The most common cause for admission was acute respiratory failure and sepsis (17.2% vs. 16.8%). The most common MDI sources were lower respiratory tract, bloodstream, and urinary tract infections. Patients with thrombocytopenia on admission had a higher mortality rate than patients with normal platelet count (P = 0.019). The initial albumin level of non-survivors was significantly lower than that of survivors (P = 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between albumin level and LOS (r = -0.157; P = 0.000). Patients with hypoalbuminemia (albumin < 3.2 g/dL) at the time of diagnosis had higher mortality, LOS and MDI rates than those with normal albumin levels (P < 0.05). There was no significant relationship between any other CBC-related parameter and infection and mortality (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia may be considered as major risk factors for morbidity and mortality in critically ill elderly patients.