European Geriatric Medicine · Jul 17, 2026

Impact of hospitalization in an acute geriatric ward after ICU discharge for patients aged 80 and over: a cohort study

By Falieres M, Retbi A, Thomas C et al.

PURPOSE: Beyond age, increased mortality among older patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is highly correlated to geriatrics factors including autonomy and frailty. A global geriatric approach may improve outcomes in this population. This study aimed to compare the 1-year mortality rate among patients hospitalized in an acute geriatric ward (AGW) following an ICU stay with that of patients transferred to any other ward (OW). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including patients aged 80 and over who were discharged alive from intensive care. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Secondary outcomes were factors associated with 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Out of a total of 656 included patients, 198 were admitted to AGW and 458 to OW. One-year mortality did not differ significantly between groups (37% vs 38% respectively, p = 0.93). Nonetheless, patients in the AGW cohort were older (85 vs 84 years old respectively, p = 0.0005), were more dependent (ADL 5 [5-6] vs 6 [6-6], p = 0.001) and frailer (CFS 4 [4-5] vs 4 [4-4]; p = 0.028). In multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for 1-year mortality were a history of cardiac failure (aRR = 1.54 [1.09- 2.18]; p = 0.014) and higher severity according to Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG aRR = 1.71 [1.28-2.29]; p = 0.0003) and SAPS II score (aRR = 1.01 [1.00-1.02]; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Despite being older, frailer, more frequently dependent, patients admitted to AGW had similar 1-year mortality compared with those admitted in other wards. Severity assessed by DRG and SAPS II scores, and a history of cardiac failure were factors associated to 1 year mortality.

doi.org/10.1007/s41999-026-01508-9PubMed 42467358Populations