Abstract:Objective To investigate the changes of electrolytes, blood lactic acid, and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory failure in the intensive care unit (ICU), and their relationship with the prognosis.Methods The clinical data of patients with COPD and respiratory failure (observation group) treated in the ICU from April 2020 to April 2024 were analyzed retrospectively. Meanwhile, 32 elderly patients with COPD treated in the hospital were selected as the control group. Electrolytes, blood lactic acid and SII were compared between the two groups. According to the 28-day prognosis, patients in the observation group were divided into survival group and death group. General clinical data, electrolytes, blood lactic acid levels and SII of the two groups were compared. The influencing factors of poor prognosis were analyzed.Results The levels of natrium (Na) and kalium (K) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the levels of blood lactic acid and SII were higher than those in the control group (P <0.05). After 28 d of treatment, 63 out of 85 patients survived and were included in the survival group. The remaining 22 patients were included in the death group. There were statistically significant differences in the levels of Na, K, blood lactic acid and SII between the survival group and the death group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that Na [O^R =1.499 (95% CI: 1.079, 2.084)], K [O^R =1.670 (95% CI: 1.041, 2.679)], blood lactic acid [O^R =4.865 (95% CI: 1.136, 20.828)], and SII [O^R =9.845 (95% CI: 1.131, 85.699)] were risk factors for death in elderly patients with COPD and respiratory failure (P <0.05).Conclusion There are significant changes of electrolytes, blood lactic acid and SII in elderly patients with COPD and respiratory failure in the ICU. Na, K, blood lactic acid and SII were risk factors for death in elderly patients with COPD and respiratory failure.