The appearance of swollen feet in critically ill elderly people is not a precursor to death, but is a common clinical symptom, mainly due to the following reasons: 1. cardiac insufficiency, elderly people with right heart insufficiency will have depressed edema of both lower extremities, which can usually be reduced by diuresis to reduce the preload of the heart. 2. hypoproteinemia, which is a common cause of swollen feet in elderly people, mainly due to the decrease in plasma colloid pressure and the infiltration of water into the subcutis. 3. renal insufficiency, elderly patients with renal insufficiency may also have non-sunken edema of both lower extremities, which can be reduced by means of hemodialysis. 4. bedridden elderly people are prone to deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities, which can also lead to swollen feet and can be improved by anticoagulation. 5. Patients with hypothyroidism can also develop anterior tibial mucinous edema, which can be treated with thyroxine supplementation. Therefore, the appearance of foot swelling in critically ill elderly people does not mean a precursor to death, and the symptoms of foot swelling can be improved by appropriate treatment.