Outcome of patients >75 with COVID-19 severe acute respiratory insufficiency (SARI)
This study will examine the oldest patients (75 years) with COVID-19 associated lung failure treated in an intensive care unit (SARI = Severe acute respiratory infection). We want to study outcomes after intensive care in this group especially as these in the sparse information we have so far seem to have a high mortality rate compared to younger patients. As elderly and multi-illness patients also appear to be a group that becomes particularly ill, at least according to reports from Italy, the group is of special interest to gain more knowledge. New guidelines for the treatment of elderly COVID-19 patients in Italy have recently been published, with the aim of limiting their intake to intensive care units. The criteria on which they are based are uncertain, and we therefore want to identify factors that are important for survival and death in this group. This can be important to understand which factors we should pay particular attention to in this as in future similar pandemics, and which may enter into a future "triage" of such patients. This is to provide treatment to those who can benefit most, and to avoid treatment to patients who have a poor prognosis after intensive care. This is first and foremost important as part of good and targeted patient care, but also important in order to use resources best in a situation where we have limited resources in relation to the need.