Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN
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Clin J Am Soc Nephrol · Jul 2019
Multicenter StudyAssociation of Initiation of Maintenance Dialysis with Functional Status and Caregiver Burden.
Little is known about the functional course after initiating dialysis in elderly patients with ESKD. The aim of this study was to assess the association of the initiation of dialysis in an elderly population with functional status and caregiver burden. ⋯ In patients aged ≥65 years, functional decline within the first 6 months after initiating dialysis is highly prevalent. The risk is higher in older and frail patients. Loss in functional status was mainly driven by decline in instrumental activities of daily life. Moreover, initiation of dialysis is accompanied by an increase in caregiver burden.