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103-year-old on dialysis: was it worth it?
Alvin Shrestha1,2, Aine Burns3
1Renal, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|January 8, 2017
Summary
Starting dialysis for elderly patients is a common question. A 103-year-old thrived on hemodialysis, showing comorbidities, not age, impact survival in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Nephrologists frequently evaluate the appropriateness of initiating dialysis in elderly patients.
- Patient age is often a significant factor in treatment decisions for end-stage renal disease.
Observation:
- A 103-year-old patient, reportedly the world's oldest, was initiated on hemodialysis.
- This patient not only survived but thrived on the treatment regimen.
Findings:
- Chronological age alone is not the sole determinant of survival in elderly patients undergoing dialysis.
- The number and severity of comorbidities are more critical predictors of survival than advanced age.
Implications:
- This case challenges the conventional view of age as a primary barrier to dialysis in the elderly.
- It supports a more individualized approach to treatment decisions, focusing on overall health status and comorbidities.
- Further research into the outcomes of very elderly patients on dialysis is warranted.
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