Acute renal failure in the elderly 1975-1990.

Two hundred and forty-two elderly patients (>65 years) with acute renal failure (ARF) treated at a predominantly medical intensive care unit between 1975 and 1990 were retrospectively analyzed for underlying diseases, severity of disease (as evaluated by the rate of ventilated patients, septicemia and APACHE II score, respectively), causes of ARF, acute and chronic risk factors for the development of ARF, complications during treatment and outcome. Overall mortality was 61%; 28 patients (12%) died in spite of resolution of ARF so actually, 49% of the patients died in ARF. Outcome was comparable to other age groups with overall mortality being 57% in patients <18 years and 59% in those 19-65 years