Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The elderly comprise approximately half of new patients undergoing dialysis, an expensive, lifesaving treatment. We report the health status of 3 elderly age groups, including novel information about patients 85 years, hypothesizing that as age increases health status will decrease. METHODS: This retrospective analysis reports on 6154 patients treated by one dialysis chain (48.4% male, 61.5% white, 39.1% diabetes as primary diagnosis). Health status is reported by a single administration of the SF-36 between 10/30/90 and 10/30/00. RESULTS: Although not statistically significant at p < .01, with increasing age, there are trends to lower Physical Function and Role Physical scores. The Physical Component Score shows a statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2. Group 3, the very elderly, are not significantly different from groups 1 or 2. Other scales show no change. CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized, physical health of dialysis patients appears vulnerable to age. However, other domains of health status remain robust. The very elderly receiving dialysis maintain their mental health when compared to patients in the 2 younger age groups. (See table below.) Table for PUR1 Mean SF-36 SCORE (SD) 1652 1 Physical Function Role Physical Bodily Pain General Health Vitality Social Function Role Emotional Mental Health Physical Component Score* Mental Component Score * = p < .01 Group 1 65–74 36.9 (27.8) n = 3687 29.3 (37.9) n = 3609 58.5 (29.0) n = 3674 43.2 (20.1) n = 3587 42.7 (22.8) n = 3635 62.8 (28.8) n = 3687 55.7 (43.6) n = 3577 69.2 (20.0) n = 3621 31.8 (10.1) n = 3445 48.3 (11.3) n = 3445 Group 2 75–84 32.4 (26.2) n = 2117 26.8 (36.4) n = 2059 58.1 (28.4) n = 2111 44.2 (20.0) n = 2073 40.8 (22.4) n = 2098 61.3 (30.0) n = 2119 54.2 (43.9) n = 2038 69.5 (20.1) n = 2089 30.9 (9.4) n = 1957 48.4 (11.6) n = 1957 Group 3 85 30.0 (27.1) n = 267 26.8 (37.5) n = 257 58.7 (58.7) n = 266 46.8 (21.1) n = 254 42.1 (23.0) n = 261 63.5 (30.1) n = 267 53.6 (44.5) n = 257 71.5 (19.1) n = 258 30.7 (10.0) n = 244 49.5 (11.0) n = 244
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