Studies Question Aggressive Care in Elderly

Some frail elderly people may not benefit from dialysis and other aggressive care, two studies suggest. One study looked at health records of 3,702 nursing home residents who had dialysis for kidney failure. Within a year, 58% died. Another 29% became less able to walk, get dressed or do other daily activities. The other study focused on 323 nursing home residents. Their average age was 85, and they had advanced dementia. They could not recognize loved ones and were unable to talk or walk. About 25% died within 6 months and 54% within 18 months. Just over 40% ended up having a hospital stay, tube feeding or other aggressive care in their last 3 months of life. Both studies appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Associated Press wrote about them October 15.