In a recent study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, 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.
The study is from the University of Tasmania and was conducted by Professor Matthew Jose et al.
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 included a total of 6825 adults including 3,816 women (55.9%).
The team 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.
But the risk 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.
The team concluded that 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.
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