Chronic and Acute Cardiovascular Diseases in Elderly Intensive Care Patients

Very old patients are a rapidly growing and vulnerable population in acute cardiovascular care but remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Clinical outcomes in older intensive care unit (ICU) patients are determined less by chronological age than by their clinical phenotype, including cardiovascular comorbidities, frailty, polypharmacy, and functional and cognitive impairment. This prospective multicenter observational study aims to assess the impact of chronic and acute cardiovascular diseases on long-term outcomes and functional trajectories in older ICU patients. Using the international VIP research network, approximately 4,000 patients will be enrolled across different ICU specialties and healthcare systems and assessed multidimensionally using validated clinical scores. The study seeks to improve risk stratification and outcome prediction in older critically ill patients with cardiovascular disease and to address existing evidence gaps in acute cardiovascular and intensive care medicine.