Nephrol Dial Transplant (2002) 17: 1440-1449
© 2002 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Patients on renal replacement therapy for 20 or more years: a clinical profile
Dialysis Centres of Piemonte, Cattedra di Nefrologia, University of Torino, Italy
Background. Long-term survivors are living evidence of the goals and limits of renal replacement therapy (RRT).
Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed on all cases (188 patients) with RRT follow-up 
20 years in Piemonte, northern Italy (4 350 000 inhabitants, 22 dialysis centres). Study included revision of clinical charts and assessment of functional (Karnofsky scale, Ks) and nutritional status (subjective global assessment, SGA). According to treatment history, patients were sorted into three groups: group 1, 56 patients always on dialysis; group 2, 40 patients on dialysis with previous graft; group 3, 92 grafted patients.
Results. Age differed between group 1 and groups 2 and 3 (59.5±11.5 vs 51.5±7.9 and 51.0±9.0 years; P=0.001). Prevalence of comorbidity was higher in groups 1 and 2 (94.6% and 95%) compared with group 3 (81.5%), reflecting selection during follow-up. Twenty-two cases (11.7%) had no comorbidity; these patients were younger (44.3±8.5 years) and 17 out of 22 had a functioning graft. The most common comorbidities were vasculopathy (73.4%), bone disease (72.9%) and cardiopathy (33.5%). Severe visual impairment was a common problem (18%), with a higher prevalence in patients with cardiovascular comorbidity (32%). Severe depression was found in 13.3% of cases. Despite comorbidity, functional scores (Ks) were good (higher in group 3 (88.1±15) than in groups 1 and 2 (67.9±21.9 and 75.5±18, respectively); P=0.000) and 64% of patients were well nourished. The combination of cardiovascular comorbidity, bone disease and visual impairment may reflect the premature ageing of RRT patients.
Conclusion. Despite the high prevalence of comorbidity, long-term follow-up may promote good clinical conditions at least in some patients, highlighting the therapeutic potentials of dialysis in an era of reconsideration of open acceptance of RRT.
Keywords: comorbidity; long-term results; renal replacement therapy
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr G. B. Piccoli, ASO San Giovanni Battista di Torino, U.O.A.D.U. Nefrologia, Dialisi e Trapianto, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Torino, Italy. Email: gbpiccoli{at}hotmail.com or gbpiccoli{at}yahoo.it
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  M. Burdese, E. Mezza, C. Rabbia, M. Merlo, D. Savio, F. Bermond, G. Soragna, O. Davini, and G. B. Piccoli The early vascular ageing of long-term RRT patients: endoprosthetic repair of an aortic aneurysm in a young patient on RRT for over 20 years Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., January 1, 2005; 20(1): 239 - 240. [Full Text] [PDF]
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