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Abnormalities of renal function in the elderly.
P F Abreu1, L R Ramos, R Sesso
1Division of Nephrology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Geriatric Nephrology and Urology
|March 4, 2000
Summary
Glomerular dysfunction and urinary abnormalities are common in the elderly. However, proximal tubular dysfunction is rare in this population, indicating a need for targeted renal health monitoring in aging individuals.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Aging is associated with physiological changes affecting renal function.
- Understanding age-related changes in kidney function is crucial for geriatric care.
- Urinary abnormalities can be indicators of underlying renal pathology in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess glomerular and proximal tubular renal function in the elderly population.
- To determine the prevalence of various urinary abnormalities in older adults.
- To identify potential links between renal function markers and urinary findings.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in São Paulo.
- A population-based sample of 81 elderly subjects (mean age 73.7 years) was analyzed.
- Key outcome measures included 24-h creatinine clearance (CCr), microalbuminuria, urinary retinol-binding protein (urRBP), leukocyturia, hematuria, and total proteinuria.
Main Results:
- 68% of subjects had a CCr below 80 ml/min/1.73 m2, indicating glomerular dysfunction.
- The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 31%, associated with higher systolic blood pressure and serum creatinine.
- While urRBP was mostly normal, leukocyturia and hematuria were prevalent, particularly in females.
Conclusions:
- Glomerular dysfunction and various urinary abnormalities are frequent in the elderly.
- Proximal tubular dysfunction, as indicated by urRBP, appears uncommon in this age group.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring glomerular function and detecting urinary abnormalities in elderly individuals.