OCTOGENARIAN DIALYSIS - SEARCH FOR PREDIC TOR FACTORS OF MORTALITY RISK IN 30 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: To assess renal replacement therapy in elderly subjects age d 80 years or more in order to depict factors predicting mortality. PA TIENTS 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 ischem ic heart disease and emergency situations were emphasized as predictor factors of mortality risk No difference according to mortality betwee n hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis subgroups was found. CONCLUSION : Excepting usual contraindications for uremic populations, no objecti ve medical criteria are at present time sufficient for excluding chron ic renal replacement therapy in very old patients. However, its effect on quality of life must be estimated in order to determine the cost/b enefit ratio.