Abstract: Objective To explore the clinical feature of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the elderly (MODSE) induced by pulmonary infection. Methods The clinical sign of 169 cases with MODSE induced by pulmonary infection admitted from January 2001 to September 2006 were reviewed. Results All cases complicated more than one chronic disease. 82.9% cases complicated more than 4 chronic diseases. The first failure organ of MODSE induced by pulmonary infection included lung, heart, kidney or gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory failure was the most commonly. The incidence of primary failure in organs dysfunction group was significantly higher than those in organs normal function group (P<0.001). Binary Logistic stepwise regression showed that clinical stage of MODSE, renal failure and circulatory failure were the high risk factors for mortality （P＜0.05）. Conclusion Lung or other dysfunction organs is the first failure organ in MODSE induced by pulmonary infection in most cases. Clinical stage of MODSE, renal failure and circulatory failure were the high risk factors for mortality. The mortality of MODSE may be reduced by preventing renal failure and circulatory failure.

Key words: multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, multiple organ failure, pulmonary infection, elderly