[Survival of older patients starting hemodialysis in Chile].
The proportion of older people with end stage renal disease is increasing. Their prognosis is characterized by a high mortality and poor quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the survival of patients starting chronic hemodialysis (CHD) according to their age.


METHODS
Patients admitted to CHD in the East Metropolitan Health Service of Santiago in a 2-year period were analyzed. Four age groups were created, separating patients older than 70 years in a special group.


RESULTS
During the study period, 459 patients were admitted to CHD and were followed for an average of 27 months. The frequency of cardiovascular comorbidity, cancer, and chronic renal disease of unknown cause (attributed to nephrosclerosis) increased along with age. Mortality was higher at older ages. There was a significant association between starting CHD with a catheter, Charlson comorbidity index and increasing age with mortality. For those aged over 80 years, mortality at three months and one year was 25 and 43% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Age, Charlson index and vascular access are predictors of mortality in older adults entering hemodialysis. This study suggests the importance of considering comorbidities, assessment by specialists and creating an arteriovenous fistula in this age group.
Sección de Nefrología, Servicio de Medicina, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile, alvarorios82@gmail.com.
Álvaro
Á
Ríos
Sección de Nefrología, Servicio de Medicina, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile.
Patricia
P
Herrera
Departamento de Medicina Oriente, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Álvaro
Á
Morales
Sección de Nefrología, Servicio de Medicina, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile.
Enrique
E
Reynolds
Departamento de Medicina Oriente, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
María Belén
MB
Fernández
Departamento de Medicina Oriente, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Fernando
F
González
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061665:Time-to-Treatment