G. Elizabeth and P. H. Leon
Elderly patients represent a significant portion of the population sustaining traumatic injuries. By the year 2050, elderly trauma admissions are expected to reach an unprecedented level of 39%. Intuitively, the outcome in this group of patients is expected to be more significant than a younger population precisely because
1. Co-morbidities are more likely to be increased
2. An impaired physiologic response to trauma is more likely to be present
3. Likelihood of being on medications which in of itself can confound monitoring and resuscitation
4. The likelihood of ICU admission for comparable injuries sustained by younger patients who wound not demand a Critical Care bed
