Is respiratory failure in the elderly worrisome?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat - Respiratory Doctor - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital
The elderly are susceptible to respiratory diseases, including respiratory failure. So is respiratory failure in the elderly worrisome? What should be done to prevent respiratory failure in the elderly?

1. Respiratory failure in the elderly

The respiratory system is divided into two parts, taking the epiglottis as the boundary, including the upper respiratory system: nose, pharynx, pharynx, sinuses, and larynx. Lower respiratory system: trachea, bronchial tree, alveoli, pleura.
Respiratory failure is a condition in which the ventilation function of the respiratory system is impaired and/and the gas exchange function of the lungs. In particular, acute respiratory failure is the leading cause of patients being hospitalized in the ICU.
Accordingly, there are many causes of respiratory failure in the elderly such as:
Inhalation of toxic substances Smoking Cigarettes Severe pneumonia Severe sepsis Injuries to the chest or head In addition, a number of other factors increase the risk of respiratory failure such as age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a history of alcohol and tobacco abuse.

2. Signs of respiratory failure in the elderly

Some symptoms of respiratory failure in the elderly are as follows:
Altered breathing rate: An increase in the number of breaths per minute may mean that the patient is having difficulty breathing or is not getting enough oxygen. Cyanosis around the mouth, on the inside of the lips, or on the fingernails can occur when a person is not getting enough oxygen as needed. The color of the skin may also appear pale or gray. Cardiovascular disorders: Often sinus tachycardia or episodes of tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation is the final manifestation. Blood pressure rises or falls: in the first stage, blood pressure is often elevated, then gradually lowers, requiring immediate intervention (ballooning, endotracheal intubation, sputum suction, mechanical ventilation). Nervous disorders: The brain consumes up to 20% of the total oxygen in the body. Therefore, when respiratory failure occurs, the brain is the organ that suffers the earliest consequences of hypoxia and hypercapnia. Neurological disorders have signs such as struggling, confusion, loss of tendon reflexes, disturbances in consciousness (lethargy, coma).

3. Is respiratory failure in the elderly dangerous?

According to the Ministry of Health, the mortality rate due to respiratory failure, hypoxemia is about 40-60%, increased CO2 in the blood is 10-25%. In addition, other serious complications may occur:
Pulmonary complications: pulmonary infarction, pulmonary fibrosis, lung infection, pneumothorax and pleural effusion. Renal complications: Acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis, electrolyte disturbances. Cardiovascular complications: pericarditis, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, heart failure. Digestive system: diarrhea, peptic ulcer, stomach bleeding, intestinal paralysis,... Causes blood infection, urinary tract infection Increased risk of death from respiratory failure.

4. Prevention of respiratory failure in the elderly

Measures to help limit the risk of respiratory failure in the elderly such as:
Quit smoking, if you smoke, get help to quit and avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible . Vaccinations: An annual flu shot, as well as a pneumonia vaccine every five years, can reduce the risk of lung infections. Quit alcohol: Excessive alcohol use can increase your risk of death and affect lung function. Limit the use of air conditioners, if used, should be kept at a temperature of 24-25 degrees Celsius, not lying in the air that blows out. Regularly exercise, keep warm when the weather changes, control and treat chronic diseases well. Respiratory failure in the elderly can leave many dangerous complications, depending on the cause of the disease, the doctor will choose the appropriate treatment method and have a different prognosis.
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Reference source: healthline.com