The ageing kidney

Ageing decline

As people age, their renal function (the work done by the kidneys) declines because the number of nephrons (the functional subunit of the kidney) declines. This doesn't significantly affect most people, but for some people the kidney function reaches a threshold where they are diagnosed with CKD: chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease

Once CKD reaches a high stage, patients experience a myriad of problems related to the liver: anaemia (a deficiency of red blood cells), osteoporosis (bone weakness and easy fracturing), oedema (fluid retention) and anasarca (widespread fluid retention throughout the whole body).

Impact on care

Exogenous drugs (medications) are only safe if the body can remove them at a sufficient rate, and a patient with even early stage CKD might no longer be suitable to take certain medications. Patients with hepatic (liver) impairment are similarly unsuitable for certain treatments. Some patients have both renal AND hepatic insufficiency.