[Estimated glomerular filtration rate and post-hospital mortality after discharge from an acute care for the elderly unit].

Objective: To determine the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and mortality in a retrospective cohort of older adults admitted to an acute care for the elderly (ACE) unit.

Materials And Methods: The study included 1,678 patients aged 60 years and over admitted to an AEC, in Cali, Colombia, from 2012 to 2015, and followed- up until 2016. The primary outcome was mortality. Renal function (eGFR) was estimated using Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD-4) equation. The renal function was grouped according to the eGFR (ml/min/1.73m) as follows: slightly decreased (≥60), moderately decreased (30-59), and severely decreased (<30). Bivariate survival and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed.

Results: In the univariate analysis, patients with severely decreased eGFR had higher mortality than those with a higher eGFR (P=.046). In the group with severely decreased eGFR, survival was lower in the functionally dependent group (Barthel index [IB]<60) than in the independent group (IB≥60) (log rank test; P=.001). In the multivariate analysis, there was a significant increase in the risk of death in the elderly with severely decreased eGFR (<30) compared with slightly decreased eGFR (≥60) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.02-2.05, P=.039). There was also a significant increase in the risk of death in the dependent elderly compared to the independent ones [HR 1.72; 95% CI; 1.26-2.34, P=.000], those who had the high morbidity (≥4) with low albumin (<3.2g/dL) compared with those with low morbidity (0-3) and high albumin (≥3.2) [HR 1.77; 95% CI; 1.18-2.65, P=.005], and in those with a high (16-102mg/dL) C-reactive protein (CRP) compared with those with low CRP (0-15) [HR 1.42; 95% CI; 1.01-2.01, P=.043].

Conclusions: The risk of mortality after hospital admission to an AEC unit is greater in patients with eGFR<30. Poor functional status performance, high comorbidity, low plasma albumin, and increased inflammation markers are additional prognostic factors to be taken into account. The improvement in the functional status could improve the survival after hospitalisation.