Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease In Elderly Under Renal Replacement Therapy And Conservative Treatment. Comparative Survival And Symptoms Study

Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of advanced chronic kidney disease for elderly, survival and symptom burden are uncertain for patients commencing renal replacement therapy versus patients managed with supportive care without dialysis (RSC-NFD). We examined these outcomes in both treatment modalities. Methods: Prospective cohort study of RSCNFD and renal replacement therapy patients older than 75-years-old. A survival analysis and Symptoms were measured using POS-S Renal Scale in a multidisciplinary RSC-NFD clinic and in renal replacement therapy units. Results: 82 RSC-NFD patients and 37 renal replacement therapy patients were included in the study. RSC-NFD patients presented significant comorbidity ( Charlson) and worse functional situation (Karnofsky). Median survival in the RSC-NFD treatment was 26.9 months (95%CI 19.6-34.2) vs mean 30.5 months (95% CI 27.46-33.67) in renal replacement therapy group (p 0.014 in favour of dialysis). Both treatments presented a wide variety of symptoms, being weakness the most prevalent and intense in both groups (97% renal replacement therapy and 98% RSC-NFD). The evaluation at 0,12 and 24 months showed that the number and intensity of symptoms remained stable in both therapies and there were no clinical differences. Conclusions: Dialysis is associated with a survival advantage from RSC-NFD. However, the perceived symptoms in advanced chronic kidney disease are highly prevalent and we didn`t appreciate differences comparing both treatments. Routine symptom assessment by a multidisciplinary team can be useful in clinical practice of patients in renal replacement therapy and RSC-NFD.