Criteria for the admission of older patients in the intensive care unit: chronological age cannot be the unique factor. (Special Section: SBGG positions before the COVID-19 pandemic.)

This brief article discusses the ICU admission and discharge criteria, and among the priorities listed for admission, are: (1) Patients in need of life support interventions, with high probability of recovery and no limitation of therapeutic support;and (2) Patients who need intensive monitoring, due to the high risk of need for immediate intervention, and without any limitation of therapeutic support.