AIM To examine whether age alone or co-morbidity is a risk factor for death in olderadults who developed Clostridium difficile(Cd)colitis during hospitalization.METHODS A retrospective,observationalstudy design was performed in our Lady ofMercy Medical Center,a 650-bed,urban,community-based,university-affiliated teachinghospital.121 patients with a positive diagnosisof Cd colitis Caged 23-97 years)were studied,and data pertinent to demographic variables,medical history,co-morbidity,physicalexamination,and laboratory results werecollected.Age was examined as a continuousvariable and stratified into Age1(<80 vs 80+);Age2(<60,60-69,70-79 and 80+);or Age3(<60,60-69,70-79,80-89,90+).RESULTS Cd colitis occurs more frequentlywith advancing age(55% of cases >80 years).However,age,per se,had no effect onmortality.A history of cardiac disease(P=0.036),recurrent or refractory infection>4weeks(P=0.007),low serum total protein(P=0.034),low serum albumin(P=0.001),antibiotic use >4 weeks(P<0.010),use of over 4 antibiotics(P=0.026),and use of certainclasses of antibiotics(P=0.035-0.004)werepredictive of death.Death was stronglypredicted by the use of penicillin-like antibioticsplus clindamycin,in the presence ofhypoalbuminemia,refractory sepsis,andcardiac disease(P=0.00005).CONCLUSION Cd colitis is common in the veryold.However,unlike co-morbidity,age alonedoes not affect the clinical outcome(survival vsdeath). AIM To examine whether or alone or co-morbidity is a risk factor for death in olderadults who developed Clostridium difficile (Cd) colitis during hospitalization. METHODS A retrospective, observational study was performed in our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, a 650-bed, urban , community-based, university-affiliated teaching hospital. 121 patients with a positive diagnosis of Cd colitis Caged 23-97 years) were studied, and data pertinent to demographic variables, medical history, co-morbidity, physicalexamination, and laboratory results were collected. Age was examined as a continuous variable and stratified into Age1 (<80 vs. 80 +); Age2 (<60, 60-69, 70-79 and 80 +); or Age3 (<60, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 , 90 +). RESULTS Cd colitis occurs more frequentlywith advancing age (55% of cases> 80 years) .However, age, per se, had no effect onmortality. A history of cardiac disease (P = 0.036), recurrent or refractory infection > 4weeks (P = 0.007), low serum total protein (P = 0.034), low serum albumin (P = 0.001), antibiotic use> 4 weeks of over 4 antibiotics (P = 0.026), and use of certain classes of antibiotics (P = 0.035-0.004) were predictive of death. Death was strongly predicted by the use of penicillin-like antibiotics plus clindamycin, in the presence of hypoalbuminemia, refractory sepsis, and cardiac disease (P = 0.00005) .CONCLUSION Cd colitis is common in the very old. However, unlike co-morbidity, age alonedoes not affect the clinical outcome (survival vs death).