Korean J Med.  2013 Jul;85(1):29-32.

Therapeutic Consideration for the Elderly Patients with End Stage Renal Disease

• Chin HJ

Abstract

Elderly population is growing in Korea along with increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease. The proportion of elderly population aged 65 years or more among patients with incident end stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing and has reached to 35.8% in 2011. Functional independence should be considered for management of elderly population with chronic disease because it is related to patient's quality of life and mortality. However, functional disability in the elderly is increasing with progression of renal dysfunction and initiation of dialysis. The renal replacement therapy could not make the elderly patients with ESRD avoid of functional disability and mortality. Considering that the mortality of the elderly with ESRD is dependent on the baseline co-morbid conditions and functional disability, the nephrologists and the geriatricians need to propose the proper guidelilnes for management of the elderly patients with ESRD in near future.

Keyword

Elderly population; End stage renal disease; Disability; Mortality

MeSH Terms

Aged
Chronic Disease
Dialysis
Humans
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Korea
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Renal Replacement Therapy