In-hospital and long-term prognosis of elderly patients requiring endotracheal intubation for life-threatening presentation of cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Objective: We studied the in-hospital course, long-term prognosis, and functional status of elderly patients with life-threatening cardiogenic pulmonary edema requiring mechanical ventilation.

Design: Semiprospective evaluation.

Setting: Twelve intensive care units and one emergency prehospital medical department in university hospitals.