Geriatric Mortality and Clinical Considerations

Cardiovascular Disease

The American Heart Association recommends that cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary heart disease and stroke, are major causes of high mortality rates in elderly patients 1
Cardiovascular diseases are associated with high mortality rates in elderly patients, with a 6.8% increase in mortality risk for each additional year of age over 65 3
The European Society of Cardiology states that diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease are more common in elderly patients with premature death, functional impairment, and comorbidities 4, 5

The World Health Organization recommends that surgical site infections are a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in surgical patients, with factors such as long operative time and blood transfusion increasing the risk 2
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that proper hand hygiene, such as washing hands for 10 minutes instead of 5 minutes, is not a risk factor for surgical site infections 2

The American College of Cardiology recommends that abdominal aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention, with symptoms such as severe back pain and hypotension 1

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism recommends that parenteral nutrition is associated with hyperglycemia as a common complication, and that central parenteral nutrition is indicated in patients with severe malnutrition 8

The American College of Surgeons recommends that trauma patients with severe injuries, such as those with low blood pressure and high-risk mechanisms of injury, require immediate attention and transfer to the operating room 2

The Neurocritical Care Society states that brain death is confirmed by the absence of pupillary reflexes, corneal reflexes, and cranial nerve reflexes, as well as a positive apnea test 9

The American Gastroenterological Association recommends that gastrointestinal bleeding is a common complication of gastrointestinal disease, with factors such as diverticulitis and angiodysplasia increasing the risk 3
The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy states that colonoscopy is the initial diagnostic test of choice for lower gastrointestinal bleeding 3

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends that anesthesia care involves careful consideration of patient factors, such as age and comorbidities, as well as procedural factors, such as the type of surgery and anesthetic technique 9
The Society of Critical Care Medicine states that critical care involves close monitoring of patient vital signs and laboratory values, as well as timely intervention to prevent complications 9