Question

6. Describe why older adults are more likely to develop acute or chronic renal failure.

Answer 1

Answer : It is a fact that the number of elderly people who frequently experience acute and chronic renal failures are increasing since 25 years. Here I describe some of the reasons for this problem. 1) In the absence of a specific disease ,the kidney undergoes age-dependant structural and functional alterations that leading to significant decrease in renal mass ,functioning nephron numbers ,and baseline kidney function . 2) Most of the elderly patients take multiple medications ,including drugs that affect renal hemodynamics ( such as angiotension - converting enzyme inhibitors ,antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents ) are directly nephrotoxic . The changes in drug metabolism and disposition that occur with aging is also the contributing factor for kidney failures . Besides use of diuretics cause volume depletion. 3) Elderly patients are more commonly exposed to potential nephrotoxic procedures such as cardiac catheterization or cardiovascular surgery,which can lead to ischemic acute tubular necrosis 4) Most of the elderly patients have chances to develop diabetes ,hypertension, Heart failure and others ,which are the main risk factors for chronic kidney diseases . 5) Many elderly patients take Inappropriate diet with excess salt and dehydration due to taking insufficient water are  also the contributing factor of kidney diseases in elderly patients .