[Conservative management in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease].

The poor health outcomes of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) in the elderly has promoted Conservative Management (CM) as a therapeutic option in advanced chronic kidney disease. However, there is still a lack of evidence about prognosis of these patients; thus, the aim was to analyze the survival rate of elderly patients under CM and RRT and evaluate the variables related to the initiation of such treatments in clinical practice. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of RRT and CM patients >75años. Renal function parameters and geriatric assessments were carried out. This evaluation included: analysis of comorbidity, functional, cognitive, frailty, nutritional and socio-family status. RESULTS: Cohort of 37 RRT and 82 CM patients. CM patients were significantly older, with more frequency of history of vascular event, more comorbility (Charlson), worse functional situation (Barthel), higher risks of cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer) and malnutrition (MNA-SF), and higher frailty and socio-familiar impairment. Mortality rate was lower in RRT patients (8.72 vs. 3/1,000 patients/month; HR= 0.37, p=0.018), but survival advantage reduced drastically after adjustment for the different geriatric syndromes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Charlson's comorbidity was found to be an independent mortality predictor in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Dialysis did not improve survival with respect to conservative treatment in patients with Charlson higher than 8 points.

Tratamiento renal conservador en ancianos con enfermedad renal crónica avanzada / Conservative management in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease

FUNDAMENTO: Los resultados en salud del tratamiento renal sustitutivo (TRS) en el anciano han hecho que el tratamiento renal conservador (TRC) sea una opción terapéutica en la enfermedad renal crónica avanzada. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre la evolución de estos pacientes, por lo que el objetivo fue analizar la supervivencia de los pacientes ancianos en TRS y TRC y evaluar el efecto de las variables relacionadas con el inicio de ambos tratamientos. MÉTODO: Estudio de cohortes prospectivo de pacientes >75 años en TRS y TRC. Se realizó un análisis de supervivencia incluyendo la valoración de la función renal y variables demográficas y clínicas, comorbilidad, fragilidad y situación funcional, cognitiva, nutricional y social. RESULTADOS: Cohorte de 37 pacientes en TRS y 82 en TRC. Los pacientes en TRC eran significativamente más ancianos, con mayor frecuencia de evento vascular, mayor comorbilidad (Charlson>8), peor situación funcional (Barthel), mayor riesgo de deterioro cognitivo (Pfeiffer) y malnutrición (MNA-SF), y mayor fragilidad y deterioro sociofamiliar. La tasa de mortalidad fue inferior en pacientes en TRS (8,7 vs 23/1.000 pacientes-mes; HR= 0,37; p = 0,018) pero el ajuste por los diferentes síndromes geriátricos analizados redujo considerablemente esta ventaja de supervivencia. CONCLUSIONES: La comorbilidad medida por el índice de Charlson fue predictor independiente de mortalidad en pacientes ancianos con enfermedad renal crónica avanzada. En aquellos pacientes ancianos con Charlson mayor de 8 puntos el TRS no mejoró la supervivencia respecto del TRC

BACKGROUND: The poor health outcomes of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) in the elderly has promoted Conservative Management (CM) as a therapeutic option in advanced chronic kidney disease. However, there is still a lack of evidence about prognosis of these patients; thus, the aim was to analyze the survival rate of elderly patients under CM and RRT and evaluate the variables related to the initiation of such treatments in clinical practice. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of RRT and CM patients >75años. Renal function parameters and geriatric assessments were carried out. This evaluation included: analysis of comorbidity, functional, cognitive, frailty, nutritional and socio-family status. RESULTS: Cohort of 37 RRT and 82 CM patients. CM patients were significantly older, with more frequency of history of vascular event, more comorbility (Charlson), worse functional situation (Barthel), higher risks of cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer) and malnutrition (MNA-SF), and higher frailty and socio-familiar impairment. Mortality rate was lower in RRT patients (8.72 vs. 3/1,000 patients/month; HR= 0.37, p = 0.018), but survival advantage reduced drastically after adjustment for the different geriatric syndromes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Charlson's comorbidity was found to be an independent mortality predictor in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Dialysis did not improve survival with respect to conservative treatment in patients with Charlson higher than 8 points