| Theme |
Nursing Practices for Elderly Dialysis Patients -- Report from Expert Nurses |
| Title |
[Overview] Chronic renal failure and dialysis therapy in elderly patients |
| Author |
Takehiko Miyaji |
Department of Nephrology, Shizuoka Saiseikai General Hospital |
| Author |
Akihiko Kato |
Division of Blood Purification, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
The continuous growth of the elderly populalion has led to an increase in the number of elderly patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Japan. A further increase in the numbers of elderly ESRD patients is expected because of the growing number of patients who are expected to have diabetic nephropathy or / and nephrosclerosis. Elderly ESRD patients have several problems including underlying diseases, social and psychological problems and cognitive functions as opposed to younger subjects. Furthermore, they have many complications such as cardiovascular diseases and mineral-bone disorders. Therefore, there are many issues in the management of ESRD and at the initiation of renal replacement therapy in the elderly. It is necessary to consider suitable therapeutic strategies to protect renal disease and to choose the most effective mode of dialysis for individuals with ESRD. |