In a new study from the University of Tasmania, researchers found people over 65 years of age with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) were more likely to die than to experience kidney failure.
This suggests that more people die with CKD rather than directly because of CKD.
In the study, the team analyzed linked data from the Tasmanian Chronic Kidney Disease study, for all Tasmanian adults diagnosed with incident stage 4 chronic kidney disease.
Data for a total of 6825 adults including 3,816 women (55.9%), was analyzed.
They found the risk of death increased with age—under 65 years: 0.18; 65‒74 years: 0.39; 75‒84 years, 0.56; 85 years or older: 0.78 —while that of kidney failure declined—under 65 years: 0.39; 65‒74 years: 0.12; 75‒84 years: 0.05; 85 years or older: 0.01.
Three important conclusions are drawn from the study:
For people with stage 4 CKD, the 5-year risk of kidney failure declines with age.
The risk of death is greater than that of kidney failure for those over 65 years of age.
And the risks of death and kidney failure for people over 65 are each greater for men than women.
People over 65 years of age with stage 4 CKD were more likely to die than to experience kidney failure, suggesting that more people die with CKD rather than directly because of CKD.
Currently clinical guidelines recommend that patients be referred to kidney specialists, in order to prepare for kidney failure or kidney replacement therapy.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about vegetables that could protect against kidney damage in diabetes, and weight change that may harm people with kidney disease.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that may cause gradual yet ‘silent’ kidney damage, and results showing that many people need this simple test to detect chronic kidney disease.
The study is published in the Medical Journal of Australia. One author of the study is Professor Matthew Jose.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
