Prediction of mortality with Charlson Comorbidity Index in super-elderly patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital

Purpose: In most countries, there is an ever-increasing admission rate of the elderly population into emergency departments (EDs). In particular, these elderly patients differ from younger patients because they have multiple comorbidities that affect the functionality and quality of life. The goal of this study is to reveal whether the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) foresee the short- and long-term prognosis of the super-elderly patient population. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive, retrospective analysis of emergency department (ED) admissions by patients over 85 years of age and admitted to the Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (COMU) Hospital between 2013 and 2018. The demographic data of the patients were analyzed according to CCI. Cox-regression analyses were conducted to determine whether the variables affected mortality. Results: A total of 1142 patients aged 85 and older (507 men, 635 women) with a mean age of 86.96 +/- 2.49 were included in the study. According to the multivariable Cox regression analysis male gender, CCI >= 6 and ICU admission were significantly associated with increased mortality rates Conclusion: The CCI predicts short and long-term prognosis in acutely ill, hospitalized super-elderly patients. The CCI could be used to select super-elderly patients at admission as an indicator of improvement at hospital discharge.