Cognitive and Functional Status and Dialysis Outcomes in Older Hemodialysis Patients

Dialysis outcome measures, which predict morbidity and mortality of younger patients on
renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis clearance, do not correlate with survival of the
elderly patients on hemodialysis. Survival of older patients on hemodialysis is
significantly worse when compared to that of the younger patients. Conditions commonly
affecting older adults, such as functional decline, cognitive impairment, depression and
declining quality of life have not been well studied in hemodialysis population. There may
be an important relationship between these measurements and outcomes in older dialysis
patients. Institution of appropriate age-specific interventions could result in improved
health status and mortality of older patients on hemodialysis. Our broad objective is to
better understand global functioning of the elderly dialysis patients and its possible
impact on dialysis outcomes in attempt to improve health care of the older patients
receiving hemodialysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Prevalent and incident hemodialysis patients over the age of 60, receiving
hemodialysis treatments at the University of Chicago outpatient dialysis program.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients 59 and younger, and patients with the following medical conditions:
malignancies currently requiring chemotherapy or radiation therapy, severe heart
failure (NYHA class IV), known HIV infection, or currently active hepatic
encephalopathy.