Geriatric nephrology

Abstract

The great increase in the number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be explained by a number of reasons. Elderly patients present typical and peculiar clinical features, and nephrologists have to consider the frequent clinical complications related to old age, such as malnutrition and cachexia, cognitive impairment and physical dependence with walking disability and depression. All of these factors have led to the birth of geriatric nephrology. Geriatric nephrology needs to take into account the high prevalence of diabetes and vascular disease in the elderly, which is related to a poor prognosis, mainly related to cerebrocardiovascular mortality. Best everyday clinical practice should include an accurate evaluation of patients, including quality of life, to select the best therapeutic approach for each individual case. A careful and reasonable use of drugs in the elderly is also of importance. © 2010 Società Italiana di Nefrologia.