Background Changes in the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older patients have received attention, but limited data are available on the outcome of these patients after admission to intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients over 65 years of age who were admitted to an ICU for TBI. Methods This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational study conducted from January 2013 to February 2019 in the surgical ICUs of 5 level 1 trauma centres in France. Patients aged ≥ 65 years who were hospitalized in the ICU for TBI with or without extracranial injuries were included. The main objective was to determine the risk factors for unfavourable neurological outcome at 3 months defined as an Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) score < 5. Results Among the 349 intensive care patients analysed, the GOSE score at 3 months was ≤ 4 and ≥ 5 in 233 (67%) and 116 (33%) patients, respectively. The mortality rate at 3 months was 157/233 (67%), and only 7 patients (2%) fully recovered or had minor symptoms. Withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining therapies in the ICU was identified in 140 patients (40.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR 1.09, CI 95% 1.04–1.14), male sex (OR 2.94, CI95% 1.70–5.11), baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR 1.20, CI95% 1.13–1.29), injury severity score (ISS; OR 1.04, CI95% 1.02–1.06) and use of osmotherapy (OR 2.42, CI95% 1.26–4.65) were associated with unfavourable outcomes (AUC = 0.79, CI 95% [0.74–0.84]). According to multivariate analysis, the variables providing the best sensitivity and specificity were age ≥ 77 years, Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 9 and ISS ≥ 25 (AUC = 0.79, CI 95% [0.74–0.84]). Conclusions Among intensive care patients aged ≥ 65 years suffering from TBI, age (≥ 77 years), male sex, baseline Glasgow coma scale score (≤ 9), ISS (≥ 25) and use of osmotherapy were predictors of unfavourable neurological outcome. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04651803. Registered 03/12/2020. Retrospectively registered.

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