OBJECTIVETo study the prediction value of age and congestive heart failure (CHF) for occurrence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome elderly(MODSE) in old patients with hypertension.

METHODSMedical history of 19,996 cases (aged over 60 year) admitted to PLA General Hospital because of hypertension or developing hypertension during hospital stay from Jan 1993 to Dec 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. According to age the patients were divided into four groups: 60-69 year group; 70-79 year group; 80-89 year group; > or = 90 year older group. The incidence of CHF and the morbidity of MODSE induced by CHF at different ages and different boundary ages were investigated.

RESULTS1. The incidence of MODSE in CHF cases was higher than that in the non-CHF cases (7.43% versus 3.05%, Chi(2) 195.15, P < 0.01), showing CHF were the important factor in happening of MODSE. 2. The incidence of CHF and the morbidity of MODSE were 10.60% versus 18.88% versus 30.11% versus 60.57%, P <0.05, P < 0.05 and 1.6 versus 7.0 versus 17.08 versus 25.47% , in 60-69 year group; 70-79 year group; 80-89 year group; > or =90 year older group, P < 0.05. Occurrence of CHF and that of MODSE were positively correlated with age (r = 0.696 - 0.987, P < 0.01). High risk population of MODSE induced by CHF were old patients with hypertension above 69 year old.

CONCLUSIONThe age is valuable for early prediction of MODSE induced by CHF in old patients with hypertension. The distinctly boundary age for the incidence of MODSE induced by CHF in old patients with hypertension is 69.