Acute renal failure in the elderly: a demographic and clinical study of patients in eastern India

A total of 638 patients with acute renal failure (ARF) of diverse etiology were studied over a period of 9 years (July 1985-Dec, 1994) of which 96 (15%) patients were classified as elderly ARF with mean age of 72.5 years. Medical causes accounted for 80% of geriatric ARF while 20% patients, had ARF of surgical origin. Decreased renal perfusion resulting from gastroenteritis was the predominant (52.8%) cause of ARF in the medical group. Nephrotoxic ARF and ARF due to F. malaria were seen in 10 and 7 patients respectively. Obstructive uropathy was observed in 12 patients in surgical group and in remaining 8 patients ARF developed following various surgical procedures. ARF in association with multiorgan failure was not observed in our study. Mortality was seen in 24 patients (25%). The causes of mortality were GI bleed (6), peripheral circulatory failure (5), hyperkalemia (4) and sepsis (4). Thus medical ARF remains the major cause of acute renal failure in elderly patients in our study in contrast to ARF associated with multiorgan failure and surgery in developed countries.