జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ నెఫ్రాలజీ & థెరప్యూటిక్స్

Acute Kidney Injury in the Elderly: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Outcomes

Abstract

Antonio Del Giudice*,Matteo Piemontese,Giuseppe Valente,Michele Prencipe,Chiara Di Giorgio,Filippo Aucella

Structural and functional changes affecting the aging kidney predispose to an increased risk of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the elderly, a condition which is becoming more and more relevant with the increase in life expectancy. The epidemiology of AKI in the elderly is not well assessed, because of the variable etiology, the coexistence of several comorbidities, the various clinical settings and geographical areas where the condition is managed, and the lack of uniform definition criteria. Currently, the use of the term AKI is suggested to mean any abrupt reduction in kidney function, while acute renal failure is just meant to indicate severe dysfunctions requiring renal replacement treatment. Comorbidities, common among elderly patients and several age-related conditions are risk factors for AKI. Moreover, also in elderly patients the presence of baseline proteinuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate are both powerful independent risk factors for AKI. Elderly patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) who develop AKI are at high risk for mortality, non-recovery from AKI and progression to more advanced stages of CKD and even to endstage renal disease. As a consequence, the challenge for nephrologists is to find strategies to either prevent AKI or prevent the transition from AKI to CKD.