The Relevance of Geriatric Impairments in Patients Starting Dialysis: A Systematic Review.
With aging of the general population, patients who enter dialysis therapy will more frequently have geriatric impairments and a considerable comorbidity burden. The most vulnerable among these patients might benefit from conservative therapy. Whether assessment of geriatric impairments would contribute to the decision-making process of dialysis initiation is unknown.



A systematic Medline and Embase search was performed on December 1, 2015 to identify studies assessing the association between risk of mortality or hospitalization and one or more geriatric impairments at the start of dialysis therapy, including impairment of cognitive function, mood, performance status or (instrumental) activities of daily living, mobility (including falls), social environment, or nutritional status.



Twenty-seven studies were identified that assessed one or more geriatric impairments with respect to prognosis. The quality of most studies was moderate. Only seven studies carried out an analysis of elderly patients (≥70 years old). Malnutrition and frailty were systematically assessed, and their relation with mortality was clear. In addition, cognitive impairment and functional outcomes at the initiation of dialysis were related to an increased mortality in most studies. However, not all studies applied systematic assessment tools, thereby potentially missing relevant impairment. None of the studies applied a geriatric assessment across multiple domains.



Geriatric impairment across multiple domains at dialysis initiation is related to poor outcome. However, information in the elderly is sparse, and a systematic approach of multiple domains with respect to poor outcome has not been performed. Because a geriatric assessment has proved useful in predicting outcome in other medical fields, its potential role in the ESRD population should be the subject of future research.
Dianet Dialysis Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Departments of Internal Medicine and.|Department of Nephrology and Hypertension and.
Ismay N
IN
van Loon
Departments of Internal Medicine and.
Tom R
TR
Wouters
Dianet Dialysis Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Departments of Internal Medicine and.
Franciscus T J
FTJ
Boereboom
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Michiel L
ML
Bots
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension and.
Marianne C
MC
Verhaar
Geriatrics, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; and.
Marije E
ME
Hamaker
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009752:Nutritional Status; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012931:Social Environment
Activities of Daily Living; Cognition; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Nutritional Status; decision-making; elderly; end-stage renal disease; frailty; geriatric assessment; hospitalization