In this systematic review of older patients admitted to intensive care, we have documented substantial variation in short- and long-term mortality as well as in prognostic factors evaluated.

To better understand this variation, we need consistent, high-quality data on pre-ICU conditions, ICU physiology and treatments, structure and system factors, and post-ICU trajectories.

These data could inform geriatric care bundles as well as a core data set of prognostic factors to inform patient-centered decision-making.

Because of expected heterogeneity, no meta-analysis was performed. We selected 129 studies (median year of publication, 2015; interquartile range, 2012–2017) including 17 based on a national registry. Most were conducted in Europe and North America.

The median number of included patients was 278 (interquartile range, 124–1,068).

ICU and in-hospital mortality were most frequently reported with considerable heterogeneity observed across studies that was not explained by study design or location.

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