| [ Summary ] |
The average age of Japanese dialysis patients is over 65. Most elderly patients are small and are often at risk of malnutrition. Their prescriptions are short dialysis time, low blood flow rates (Qb), and small dialyzers. The average urea single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) is approximately 1.4. Elderly dialysis patients should be dialyzed for at least 4 hours with a minimal Qb of 180 mL/min and dialyzer of membrane areas of 1.2 m2. Also spKt/V 1.4 should be achieved as recomended in the Japanese guidelines. Large spKt/V levels are easily achieved for elderly dialysis patients with small physique. However, it is good not to lower treatment levels, but to take the opportunity to improve overall nutrition. |