By looking at creatinine and cystatin C in the blood, healthcare providers can make better estimates of kidney function in the elderly. This results in an improved diagnosis of kidney damage and more appropriate treatment, reports the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC).
With a kidney function of less than 60 percent, there is chronic kidney damage. There is then a greater risk of dialysis or death. The question is whether the 60 percent limit also applies to the elderly or whether they only have an increased risk of this at 45 percent. This outcome is probably the result of the estimation of the amount of creatinine in the blood, which, according to researchers, is less reliable for this age group.
Muscle mass for the elderly
Someone with a low concentration of creatinine in the blood should have high kidney function. The substance is then quickly removed by well-functioning kidneys. Older people often have less muscle mass and therefore kidney function can accidentally be higher. There is less creatinine in the blood, but not due to properly functioning kidneys, but due to less muscle mass.
Creatinine in combinatie cystatine C
By looking at the amount of creatinine and cystatin C in the blood, a better estimate of kidney function in the elderly can be made. As a result, with a kidney function of 60 percent, there is also an increased risk of dialysis and death, according to research by Edouard Fu. The combination of the two substances gives a lower estimate of kidney function, resulting in more elderly people being diagnosed with chronic kidney damage. By measuring both substances, a better estimate can be made of which treatment an elderly person needs and, for example, a decision can be made to start or stop certain medications. The outcome may also influence a possible referral to a nephrologist.
By: National Healthcare Guide / Johanne Levinsky
2024-02-07 11:33:40
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