POLDER Study

In the POLDER project, several hospitals are working together to develop a care pathway to get a complete picture of the older kidney patient. By performing a ‘geriatric assessment’, care providers can map out what the daily life of the patient looks like. The goal: tailored care and treatment for the older kidney patient.

n the Netherlands there are more and more older patients with reduced kidney function. Also, more and more older patients receive renal function replacement treatment. This group of patients may need different care than the younger kidney patient. According to national guidelines the vulnerability of older kidney patients should be considered. However, this is not achieved yet everywhere. In this research we look at how hospitals can do this best. Subsequently, the provided care can better customised to the situation of each older kidney patient and provide support for treatment choices.

POLDER stands for Pathway for Older Patients Reaching End Stage Renal Disease. We want to understand how kidney failure affects aging, and to improve care.

For the first purpose, we collect data in a national database and investigate, for example, what older patients consider important as a result of the treatment, when the dialysis is ‘successful’ and how we can better support the choice for treatment. For the second purpose, it is important that patients and different care providers exchange information better: such as the nephrologist, nurse, geriatrician, dietitian and social worker. If necessary, extra care can be given – for example dietary advice, physiotherapy or other care. The POLDER project provides additional training for health care professionals, specifically about the older kidney patient.

For more information, visit the POLDER Study website.