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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
Frailty in patients on dialysis
Gordon Chun-Kau Chan1, Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh2, Jack Kit-Chung Ng1
1Carol & Richard Yu Peritoneal Dialysis Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Frailty, a decline in physical and cognitive function, significantly impacts dialysis patients, increasing risks. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach to slow functional decline.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Geriatrics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Frailty is prevalent in dialysis patients, marked by physiological and cognitive decline.
- Symptoms include weight loss, exhaustion, low activity, weakness, and slow walking speed.
- Frail patients face higher risks of hospitalization, infection, cardiovascular events, and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes of frailty in patients undergoing dialysis.
- To examine management strategies and challenges for frailty in this population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of frailty in dialysis patients.
- Analysis of contributing medical issues and interactions.
- Exploration of multidisciplinary management approaches.
Main Results:
- Frailty results from complex interactions of medical issues in dialysis patients.
- No cure exists; management focuses on slowing functional decline.
- Multifaceted strategies are essential for addressing frailty.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing nutrition and CKD complications is crucial.
- Deprescription and personalized dialysis prescriptions are key interventions.
- Home-based or assisted dialysis may benefit frail patients.
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