Patients whose kidney function is no longer adequate and who require dialysis have very different life expectancies. The prognosis depends strongly on the underlying disease leading to kidney failure, on age and on accompanying diseases.
Life expectancy with dialysis
There are patients who have been undergoing dialysis therapy regularly for decades, but there are also patients who are so seriously ill that their life expectancy, even with dialysis, is less than one year. It is not always possible to predict before dialysis how effective the therapy will be. It is also almost impossible to predict the life expectancy of an individual patient.
This is because the above-mentioned factors play an essential role and it is not possible to predict how, for example, the concomitant diseases will develop. Dialysis can also lead to complications such as infection. In weakened very sick patients, this can significantly reduce life expectancy.
Nevertheless, the treating renal physician (nephrologist) can provide advice on whether dialysis is appropriate or not. Overall, more than half of the patients who need dialysis live more than 10 years after the start of dialysis. About one in four patients live 20 years or more after the start of dialysis.
Life expectancy without dialysis
Even in patients with kidney failure without dialysis therapy, life expectancy depends largely on the underlying disease, concomitant diseases and age of the patient. The course of kidney failure is also important. Is it acute or chronic kidney failure?
The acute form often develops rapidly, the chronic form in many cases over years or decades. Chronic renal failure does not always result in a complete loss of renal function, so life expectancy here can almost reach that of patients who do not have kidney disease. However, in the case of terminal renal failure, i.e. kidney weakness in the final stage, life expectancy is between 6 and 32 months.
If dialysis is refused or is out of the question, an attempt is made to treat with medication and dietary measures. Life expectancy can therefore vary greatly even without dialysis. The attending physician can help to decide whether dialysis is a sensible treatment option or whether the effect of dialysis does not outweigh the difficulties associated with the therapy.
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