Objectives: The definition of chronic critical illness in the elderly has not yetbeen determined. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and clinicalfeatures of chronic critical illness in the elderly population in Turkey.Materials and Methods: Data from 16 intensive care units of public and privatehospitals in Turkey were evaluated. Patients staying in the intensive care units for atleast eight days between 2015 and 2017 and having at least one of the additionalcriteria were accepted as chronic critical illness and they were divided into twogroups by age, those 65 and older and those under 65.Results: The chronic critical illness patient rate in the intensive care units was10.7%. Of chronic critical illness patients in the intensive care units, 60.9% were 65years of age and older, and the mortality rate of patients 65 years and older was70%. The frequencies of ischemic stroke and sepsis, the number of patients withcomorbidities, and the mortality rate were higher in patients over 65 years ofage, while the frequency of traumatic brain injury, presence of a major wound,tracheostomy, length of hospital stay and cost of care were higher in patients under65 years of age.Conclusion: We determined that prolonged mechanical ventilation, traumaticbrain injury, tracheostomy and major wound presence in intensive care unitspatients 65 years and older increased hospital stay and costs. More work is neededto define chronic critical illness more clearly in elderly </p
