Management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
Both acute and chronic states of kidney disease have considerable healthcare impact as they can produce enormous disease burden and costs. To classify chronic kidney disease into the CKD staging system, glomerular filtration rate as an index of kidney function, as well as albuminuria as a marker of kidney damage have to be assessed as correctly as possible. Misclassification is a serious concern due to the difficulties in precise GFR assessment and correct interpretation of results. Differentiating between pure senescence and true disease among older adults can be a delicate issue. To find the right renal replacement option for individuals that progress to end-stage renal disease can be challenging, and some older patients may even benefit from conservative care without dialysis. To prevent acute kidney injury as a frequent and potentially life-threatening complication, clinicians need to develop an understanding of the common vulnerability to kidney damage among older adults.