ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics of the severe sepsis in the elderly. MethodsThe clinical data of elderly severe sepsis patients admitted to General Hospital of Chinese Armed Police Forces between June 2005 and January 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsOf 645 elderly ≥65 yeras old severe sepsis patients,the total hospital mortality rate was 61.1%,and the intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rate was 41.4%. The length of total hospital stay was 21 days (median). The length of ICU stay was 20 days (median). The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) score Ⅱ ranged from 8 to 58 (median 26). The incidence of septic shock was 40.2%,and its mortality was 70.7%. Cultures were performed for bacteria on 935 samples,and the overall positive culture rate was 30%. The APACHE Ⅱ,length of ICU stay and length of hospital stay increased significantly in the hospital-acquired infection group compared with the community-acquired infection group. The organ dysfunction incidence rates were 77.9% in lungs,44.3% in blood,53.2% in brain,31.5% in heart,48.1% in gastrointestinal tract,20.5% in kidneys and 14.6% in liver. The mortality rate in group with organ dysfunction was significantly higher than that in group with normal organ function. The mortality rate of sepsis in the elderly increased obviously with the increase in the number of the dysfunctional organs. ConclusionThe severe sepsis in the elderly has a high mortality rate. It is frequently complicated with hospital-acquired infections and multiple organ dysfunctions. Comprehensive treatment is recommended for these patients to protect against organ dysfunctions.