Project 172162

We hypothesize that the aging of Canada's population is creating a looming crisis for our healthcare system. Elderly patients already comprise the majority of acutely ill and critically ill patients in Canadian hospitals, and we anticipate that this issue will intensify. We predict that Canada's aging population (the 'Baby Boomers') is expected to increase the demand for ICU care by nearly 60% over the next 20 years. If successful, our research will examine the implications of these trends on the Canadian healthcare system. By examining the effects of age on ICU utilization and outcome and on post-ICU healthcare utilization and outcome, we will provide vital information to help citizens, researchers, and policy makers anticipate future costs and resource requirements. We believe the findings of our research will be essential for planning healthcare delivery to the increasing number of elderly Canadian patients who will require ICU care in the future.