[Dialysis in octagenarians: search for mortality risk factors. Consecutive series of 30 patients]. / La dialyse des octogénaires: recherche de facteurs de risque de mortalité. Série consécutive de 30 patients.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess renal replacement therapy in elderly subjects aged 80 years or more in order to depict factors predicting mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 30 consecutive patients at the time of starting dialysis from January 1995 to August 1995 and followed this population though March 1996. RESULTS: Only past ischemic heart disease and emergency situations were emphasized as predictor factors of mortality risk. No difference according to mortality between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis subgroups was found. CONCLUSION: Excepting usual contraindications for uremic populations, no objective medical criteria are at present time sufficient for excluding chronic renal replacement therapy in very old patients. However, its effect on quality of life must be estimated in order to determine the cost/benefit ratio.