Dialysis versus conservative kidney management in older adults: why one size does not fit all

As the global population ages, an increasing number of older adults progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In this population, frailty, multimorbidity, and functional decline often limit the survival benefit of dialysis, challenging the conventional approach to renal replacement therapy. PURPOSE: To summarize current evidence comparing dialysis with conservative kidney management (CKM) in older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), focusing on survival, quality of life, hospitalization, and prognostic tools.

A narrative synthesis was conducted based on observational, cohort, and systematic review studies including adults aged ≥ 70 years with stage 4-5 CKD. The literature search was performed exclusively in the PubMed database, which represents a methodological limitation of this review. Search terms included: end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, dialysis, conservative management, frailty, geriatric patients, and elderly patients. Outcomes were grouped into four domains: survival, quality of life, healthcare utilization, and prognostic models.