Dialysis in the Older Adult – Practical Considerations
Dialysis in the Older Adult. The number of persons aged 65 years and older with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing and is expected to grow further in the coming years. Simultaneously, the percentage of older adults being treated for ESRD with renal replacement therapy (RRT, which includes peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis performed in the home or a dialysis center) is also increasing, though African Americans tend to be referred for dialysis later than others, often because they receive care later in the course of ESRD.
TIPS FOR DEALING WITH RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY (RRT) IN OLDER ADULTS
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Despite the increased use of RRT, mortality rates of older adults receiving RRT are higher than in younger individuals on RRT for a variety of reasons, including medical comorbidities, limited life expectancy, frailty, and poor functional status. These factors all pose challenges in decision-making about if and when to institute RRT, how best to provide it, and, once begun, whether there is a point at which it should be discontinued.
Is dialysis a good idea for older people? Dialysis may not be the best choice for everyone with kidney failure. Several European studies have shown that people with end-stage kidney disease and other health problems, like dementia or ischemic heart disease, do not have a better chance of living longer if they get dialysis.
Contents
Factors to consider before Initiating Dialysis in Older Adults
The decision to initiate (or stop) dialysis in older adults requires a lot of planning and informed decision-making. The general issues that need to be assessed are listed in Table 1. The overall approach to initiating RRT is outlined in the algorithm below.
Table 1. Factors to consider Before Initiating RRT in Older Adults
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Benefits and Challenges of RRT in Older Adults
Benefits
RRT offers a survival advantage to older adults with ESRD who have minimal co-morbidities and good functional status. These individuals also report improvement in quality of life from social stimulus at dialysis centers. In addition, it helps alleviate symptoms associated with ESRD. Despite the aforementioned benefits, there are also challenges to providing RRT to older adults (Table 2).
Challenges
Table 2. Challenges of RRT in Older Adults
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Various tools can be used to assess a patient’s cognitive, functional, emotional, and physical status and quality of life (Table 3). For patients with ESRD in whom the evaluation still leaves uncertainty about the desirability of RRT, a trial of RRT can be instituted (see algorithm).
| Table 3. Tools for Assessing Older Adults Prior to RRT | |
Cognitive Status |
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Functional Status |
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Emotional Status |
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Physical Status |
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Quality of Life |
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