[Acute renal failure in critically ill elderly patients--a reason to dispense with therapy?]

846 patients on a surgical intensive care unit (436 patients over 70 years old = group I, 410 patients up to 70 years old = group II) were included in a prospective study of incidence, mortality and reversibility of acute renal failure (ARV). APACHE II-Score showed no differences (17.5 in group I and 15 in group II), but a preexisting renal insufficiency was seen in 18.1% in group I and in 7% in group II (p < 0.05). Incidence of acute renal failure (group I 7.3%, group II 8.3%) and mortality of patients with ARV (group I 18.7%, group II 17.6%) was comparable in both groups.