| Theme |
Reconsidering dialysis initiation for the elderly |
| Title |
Characteristics and diagnosis of elderly CKD patients |
| Author |
Hiroshi Takane |
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical University |
| Author |
Hirokazu Okada |
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical University |
| [ Summary ] |
Due to the aging of the Japanese population, the number of elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the number of dialysis patients is increasing rapidly. Aging is a natural and inevitable biological process that results in structural and functional changes in many organ systems. In the kidney, various structural changes occur with aging, including micro-anatomic changes, and macro-anatomic changes such as decreased kidney cortical volume, as well as nephrosclerosis and tubular atrophy. Functional changes also occur with aging, and decreased glomerular filtration (GFR) rates. To provide appropriate diagnoses and medical care, it is important to understand the characteristics of elderly patients with CKD. |