Background:

Studies evaluating chronic kidney disease in older adults are scarce despite the high prevalence of the disease in this age group. In this study we have tried to determine the factors associated with the progression of chronic kidney disease in a group of patients over 65 years old.

Methods:

An analytical observational study of a prospective non-concurrent cohort was performed. We included patients older than 65 years belonging to a nephroprotection program and then, we followed them for 12 months. The variables of interest were age, sex, history of diabetes mellitus, serum creatinine at baseline and at 12-month follow-up, blood pressure and use of antihypertensive drugs, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein, cholesterol levels, proteinuria, and use of antiplatelet agents. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated at baseline and at 12-month follow-up, lastly the progression of chronic kidney disease was established.

Results:

200 patients were included with an average age of 78.9 + 7.6 years, 51 % (102) females, 33 % (66) with a history of diabetes mellitus, with a mean initial eGFR 38.8 + 12.1 mL/min/1.73 m2. The mean of the final eGFR was 36.4 + 11.0 mL/min/ 1.73 m2 ; 17.5 % (35) presented a decrease > 25 % of the initial eGFR (progression) and 37.5 % (75) showed a decrease > 5mL/min/1.73m2/ year (rapid progression). Progression and rapid progression were significantly associated with age (p = 0.03 and p = 0.001, respectively), male sex (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and proteinuria (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant associations with other variables of interest.

Conclusion:

In our study, the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients older than 65 years in a nephroprotection program was significantly associated with the increased age, male sex, and presence of proteinuria.

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