Elderly Patients on Dialysis: A Single-Center Study from Sabah.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Geriatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Elderly patients initiating dialysis present unique challenges in management and survival.
• End-stage renal disease (ESRD) epidemiology and outcomes in older adults require specific investigation.
• Tertiary centers play a crucial role in managing complex geriatric renal patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiology, characteristics, preparedness, and survival of elderly patients (≥65 years) starting dialysis.
• To compare survival outcomes between optimally and suboptimally prepared elderly patients for renal replacement therapy (RRT).
• To identify factors associated with survival in elderly dialysis patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of newly initiated dialysis patients aged 65 and above from 2014-2017.
• Patients categorized into optimally prepared (Group 1) and suboptimally prepared (Group 2) for RRT.
• Survival analysis conducted at 3, 6, and 12-month intervals.

Main Results:

• Diabetes mellitus was the primary cause of ESRD in 67.3% of patients.
• 69.2% of elderly patients were suboptimally prepared for RRT.
• One-year survival was 65% overall, with significantly poorer outcomes for suboptimally prepared patients (56% vs. 85.2%, P <0.001).

Conclusions:

• Age and RRT preparation are key factors influencing survival in elderly dialysis patients.
• Suboptimal preparation is common and associated with significantly reduced survival.
• Early and optimal preparation for dialysis is crucial for improving survival and quality of life in older adults.