Sociodemographic, clinical characterization and functional capacity of long-lived patients on hemodialysis

Introduction: The number of elderly patients with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease has increased worldwide. Objective: To characterize socio-demographic, clinical aspects, and functional capacity of elderly patients affected by the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Methods: A cross-sectional study, carried out in seven dialysis units, between March 2015 and November 2016. Sample was composed of 103 lives. Socio-demographic data collection by means of questionnaire, economic classification, Brazil 2015 classification, social support by Medical Outocomes Study, functional capacity by the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) by Lawton & Brody. Results: Socio-demographic characteristics: average age was 84 years, 90 (87.4%) were white, 63 (61.2%) were males, 52 were married (50.5%). They had an average of 7.6 years of schooling level, 74.8% belonged to social classes C/D levels, 72.8% were hypertensive, 33% had low weight. Among the elderly, 56 (54.4%) had arteriovenous fistula, were on average 39.8 months under hemodialysis. Clinically, they had an average hemoglobin of 11.41 g/dl and used on average 3.7 medications daily. Regarding functional capacity, 29.2% were dependent of ADL and 68.9% with some degree of dependence for IADL. Conclusion: Elderly patients under hemodialysis are mostly white, male, married, with little schooling level, low social class and functional dependence.