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Factors predicting mortality in elderly patients on dialysis.
U Verdalles1, S Abad, I Aragoncillo
1Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
Nephron. Clinical Practice
|February 23, 2010
Summary
Comorbidity, not advanced age, significantly impacts mortality and admissions in elderly dialysis patients. These findings suggest that age alone should not prevent elderly individuals from initiating dialysis.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Elderly patients are increasingly undergoing dialysis.
- This demographic presents unique challenges due to high comorbidity and mortality rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize incident dialysis patients over 75 years old.
- To identify factors influencing their outcomes and mortality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 139 patients aged >75 years starting dialysis.
- Data collected on comorbidities, admissions, and mortality.
- Charlson index used to assess comorbidity burden.
Main Results:
- 44% of patients died during follow-up, with infection and cardiovascular issues as primary causes.
- Admission rates correlated with the Charlson index.
- The Charlson index was the sole independent predictor of mortality in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Age is not a significant factor in mortality or admissions for elderly dialysis patients.
- Incident comorbidity, as measured by the Charlson index, is the primary determinant of outcomes.
- Dialysis should be considered for elderly patients regardless of age.
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