Damage markers, progression factors and causes of chronic kidney disease in older adults

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is present in 20% of the elderly population, causing numerous health expenses.Objective: To characterize chronic kidney disease in older adults.Material and methods: An observational, descriptive and longitudinal study was conducted. It was based on a screening test using the CKD-EPI equation for estimating glomerular filtration rate, as well as serum creatinine measurements and other laboratory tests. These tests were repeated three months later for confirmation; and they were carried out in the period from May 2014 to May 2015 in Family Doctors Offices and Nurse Clinics 13,14 and 42 of “Entronque de Pilotos”. The universe and the sample were composed of 389 and 109 patients, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics (absolute frequencies, relative frequencies, x-2 test and Bartholomew's test) with a significance level of 95% were used. Results: Hematuria was the most frequent marker followed by albuminuria and proteinuria. Arterial hypertension (AHT) affected 94 patients (86.2%), followed by cardiovascular diseases with 73 patients (77.0%) and diabetes mellitus with 47 ones (43.6%). There was a predominance of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus as probable causes of the disease with 58 and 20 cases, representing 53.2% and 18.3%, respectively.Conclusions: The disease exceeded the prevalence rates in the health area; the presence of markers of kidney damage and progression factors was frequent.

Keywords

• enfermedad renal crónica
• envejecimiento
• marcadores de daño renal
• factores de progresión.