There is no hard-and-fast rule to estimate the survival rate of patients on ventilators. There may be many factors that can vary this scale; however, age has emerged as the most critical factor in recent findings. If we study the data collected and the insights provided by the professionals, it will be evident that age is one of the strongest determinants in the estimation of the survival rate of ventilator-dependent patients.
Ventilators are supposed to be life-saving machines, but these come with their own set of challenges. And one of the biggest challenges in using ventilators is that the chances of survival of patients vary as per their age.
Let’s delve deep into how survival rates vary with age among patients on ventilators.
What Is Ventilator Survival Rate of Senior Citizens
Studies and clinical experience show that patients over the age of 65, when on ventilators, are on the edge of a higher risk of mortality. The basic reason behind this risk is probably a weakened immune system, while prior medical history and low physiological reserve are other considerable factors. The immune system gets compromised naturally as age grows. This is why it becomes challenging for elderly people to fight against infections and recover. On this factual note, healthcare providers use more cautious strategies and approaches when using ventilators for elderly people. Conditions like Pneumonia, Stroke, Coma make survival rate more thin.
- Also Checkout: Breath Stacking on Ventilator Patients
Middle Aged Patients Survival Rate on Ventilator
Middle-aged patients, under 65 but above 45, generally have a higher survival rate on ventilators as compared to the elderly population. However, their survival rate can still show a significant decline due to other factors like internal health, the presence of more than one underlying health problem, and the severity of the respiratory issue. The aforesaid factors affect the survival rate of patients on ventilators, but still, the mortality rate of this age group is lower than that of those above 65.
- Checkout: Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation
Young Adults and Children Survival Rate While on Ventilator
It is an open secret that the younger the person, the greater the chance of surviving infections, and in the case of children, this power increases manyfold. Thence, patients under 45, especially children, show the highest survival rate on the ventilators. Relatively, the strongest and fastest immune system, along with the least preexisting medical history and higher willpower, makes the population of this age more fit to recover at a fast pace. However, the mortality rate in patients of this age can even reach a higher point if other important variables like overall health status and comorbidities are not considered or the patient is not shifted to a ventilator in a timely manner. Young adults normally start showing signs of improvement earlier than other age groups.
Conclusion
Age undoubtedly holds a significant position when it comes to surviving on a ventilator. It is generally seen that the tendency to embrace death is more common in elderly people than in young adults or children when put on ventilator. However, it is an undeniable fact that age is only one factor. There are many other factors, including the overall health status of the patient, the severity of the respiratory problem, and how early the patient gets ventilation support, that can change the probability and insight regarding the survival rate of ventilated patients. The good thing is that this rate is improving with the advancements in the medical field.
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