Senescent chronic kidney disease: The challenges faced and the strategies to overcome

Abstract

The management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in elderly patients continues to pose constant challenges to clinical nephrologists. Right from the perplexing issue of calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to the confusion between the choice of disease-oriented approach and individual-centered approach, the challenges faced are mammoth. This article seeks to bring a consensus in sorting out these practical problems so that a systematic way of approach could be arrived at in managing such fragile patients. The last decade has seen an evolution and ongoing refinement of a disease-oriented approach to CKD. Since the average GFR tends to decrease with age, CKD becomes increasingly prevalent with advancing age, and thus, disproportionately elderly patients meet the criteria for CKD.