RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN THE ELDERLY

Before 1980 few patients over the age of 65 starred chronic dialysis, despite the fact that the incidence of advanced chronic renal failure was approximately ten times greater in this group compared to young an d middle aged adults.(1) Since that rime the number of elderly patient s starting renal replacement has increased markedly and accounted for 38% of new dialysis patients in Scotland in 1995. (Data supplied by th e Scottish Renal Registry). In order to meet the needs of older patien ts with chronic renal failure there has been considerable expansion in renal services and it has been predicted that this will continue to i ncrease in Scotland until 2010.(2).