[Chronic kidney dysfunction in the elderly patient: physiological process or disease?]

The last few years have seen a steady rise in numbers of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), mainly because of the increased prevalence of older patients. Today, most new diagnoses of CKD are made in patients belonging to the large subgroup of subjects aged 65 years or over, who often present with mild-to-moderate CKD. Given the recent rise in numbers of elderly CKD patients referred to American renal clinics, the American Society of Nephrology has recently endorsed a study group dedicated to this group of patients, Geriatric Nephrology, with the aim of increasing knowledge on CKD in the elderly and subsequently improving the clinical management of older patients. Indeed, several questions remain open and further studies are required to clarify diagnostic criteria for 'true' CKD in the elderly and the associated 'real' clinical implications in terms of hard outcomes. This review aims to address a hot topic through evaluation of the most recent and influential studies regarding the relationship between ageing and CKD.