Dialysis prescription in elderly hemodialysis patients.

ABSTRACT

A growing number of elderly patients have started dialytic treatment in recent years. In spite of this fact, there is very little literature on dialysis prescription in these patients. In this paper, the authors examine the single variables of Kt/V index and report on their own experience when prescribing the dialytic dose in elderly patients. Regarding dialyzer clearance (Kd), it is known that in order to obtain a high Kd we need an adequate vascular access. In our experience, with a radiocephalic fistula elderly patients showed less (but not significantly so) Qac than younger patients (738 +/- 350 ml/min versus 892 +/- 491 ml/min). We can therefore consider this type of fistula as the first vascular access in elderly patients also. As far as Kr is concerned, its rate of decline (0.4+/-0.4 ml/min/month) in these patients, excluding those with diabetes or a history of heart failure, is not different from that of younger patients. Treatment time remains a crucial point for adequacy. In order to avoid hypotensive episodes, especially in the elderly, we suggest T = 180 minutes minimum, and ultrafiltration rates should not exceed 0.6-0.8 kg/h. As regards V, it can be stated that these patients have a reduced lean body mass and total body water, and could therefore require smaller dialysis doses. However, we think that the target of Kt/V in malnourished elderly patients requires further study. What our data on Kt/V delivered to a large group of patients shows is that the elderly received the same adequate dialytic dose (Kt/V > 1.3) as that of younger patients.