title: [Nutritional status of patients with chronic kidney disease].
abstract: The population of patients with chronic kidney disease is aging, and approximately 50% of those starting renal replacement therapy are older than 65 years. Aging poses challenges to maintaining the nutritional status of these patients. As patients get older, purchasing and preparing food may become difficult if the patient is not supported by relatives or social workers. In addition, appetite may decrease as a result of depression. Furthermore, intercurrent illnesses may become more frequent, leading to changes in nutrient requirements. Mobility and cognitive function often decline in elderly patients and the combination of these factors may result in malnutrition. Since malnutrition has been demonstrated to impact on survival in dialysis patients of all ages, appropriate attention to nutritional status and its management is essential in the elderly patient, both in the predialysis phase and on dialysis. This article reviews the issues associated with the maintenance of good nutrition in elderly patients and describes the potential causes of malnutrition. It also reviews the nutrient requirements of older dialysis patients (which differ somewhat from those of younger patients) as well as the assessment of their nutritional status. Finally, recommendations for the management of nutrition in the elderly patient are discussed.
authors.affiliation: S.C. Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Trento - Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunori
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*