Research progress on elderly sepsis / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Sepsis is a serious problem among the elderly population as its incidence and mortality rates dramatically increase with advanced age. More importantly, the elderly has increased vulnerability to developing sepsis due to diminished physiologic reserve, presence of comorbidities, immunosenescence and frequent instrumentation. Those who survive severe sepsis are more likely to have irreversible organ damage, cognitive impairments, and diminished overall function. Additionally, elderly patients with sepsis often present with atypical symptoms which further complicates and potentially delays diagnosis. Although sepsis is a serious life-threatening disease, recognition of this problem is very low compared to other age-associated diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to analyze the challenges facing this cohort and how to optimize their management.