Clinical spectrum of chronic renal failure in the elderly: a hospital based study from eastern India

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical spectrum of chronic renal failure (CRF) in the elderly. The diagnosis of CRF was made using standard clinical criteria. The elderly was defined as person with over 60 years of age. In total, 200 elderly patients with CRF were evaluated between July 2002 and February 2004. Their age (male: 146; female: 54) ranged between 60 and 90 (mean 64.31+/-4.18) years. Diabetic nephropathy was the most common (46%) cause of CRF. Hypertensive nephrosclerosis, chronic interstitial nephritis and obstructive uropathy were responsible for CRF in 18%, 14% and 13% of patients, respectively. We observed chronic glomerulonephritis in 7% of elderly CRF. Urinary tract infection (55.5%), hypovolemia (22.2%), accelerated hypertension (11.1%) and sepsis (11.1%) were responsible for acute exacerbation of renal failure in 36 (18%) patients. Associated co-morbid conditions were noted in 93 (46.5%) patients. They included; coronary artery disease 46 (49.46%), cerebrovascular disease 20 (21.50%), osteoarthritis 13 (13.97%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6 (6.45%), dilated cardiomyopathy 5 (5.37%), and malignancy in 3 (3.22%) patients. Acute dialytic support was required in 164 (82%) cases and remaining 36 (18%) patients received conservative management. Mortality was noted in 25 (12.5%) cases. The coronary artery disease (48%), acute pulmonary edema (20%) and hyperkalemia (12%) were the main causes of death. Subsequent evaluation revealed that 102 (51%) patients had ESRD of which only 3 (2.94%) patients could afford CAPD. A total of 11 (10.7%) patients underwent chronic maintenance hemodialysis for 3-4 months and then discontinue dialysis mainly because of financial constraints. Remaining 88 (86.27 %) patients with ESRD were discharged from hospital after symptomatic improvement with acute dialysis. Thus, diabetic nephropathy related to type-2 diabetes was the commonest cause of CRF in our elderly patients. Chronic renal failure in elderly was associated with a number of co-morbid conditions, which contributed significantly to morbidity and mortality. Acute on chronic renal failure with severe uremic complications were an important cause of hospitalization. The financial constraint was the major limiting factor for the management of elderly ESRD patients.