Loew H
Z Gerontol. 1987 Jan-Feb;20(1):52-5.
In Europe 40% of patients under regular dialysis therapy (RDT) are aged over 55. In our hospital 40% of patients under RDT are aged over 70%. The causes of terminal renal failure in the aged are similar to those of the younger patients. 45% of patients between 60 and 70 years and 25% of those between 70 and 80 years survive 5 years after initiation of RDT. Quality of life under RDT is good enough for the elderly to be grateful for prolongation of their lives. A general upper age limit for RDT is difficult to set. In rare instances RDT may become questionable in the aged, mainly when cerebral dysfunction becomes prominent. In these cases it might be ethical not to start, or to withdraw from RDT.
在欧洲，接受常规透析治疗（RDT）的患者中有40%年龄超过55岁。在我们医院，接受RDT的患者中有40%年龄超过70岁。老年人终末期肾衰竭的病因与年轻患者相似。60至70岁的患者中有45%以及70至80岁的患者中有25%在开始RDT后存活了5年。RDT下的生活质量足以让老年人感激生命的延长。很难设定RDT的一般年龄上限。在极少数情况下，RDT在老年人中可能会受到质疑，主要是当脑功能障碍变得突出时。在这些情况下，不开始或停止RDT可能是符合伦理的。
