Cluster analysis average levels

Since toxin induced chronic renal failure is theorized to occur after years of low-level toxin exposure, it stands to reason that the incidence would be clustered in elderly patients. The study of Chester et al. [172] provides indirect support that elderly patients may be at greater risk. Of the 79 patients with chronic renal failure who met age criteria of 70 year or more, 29% were classified as having chronic interstitial nephritis, a clinical diagnosis quite compatible with toxin induced renal failure and an incidence substantially higher than the 10.4% in accumulated series in which patients 50 year and older were included [173]. Furthermore, in the 2006 USRDS survey of causes of ESRD, the average age for patients with a diagnosis of interstitial nephropathy was 56 year compared to 58 years for the entire population reported [119]. In the recent analysis of the PICARD database, advanced age was associated with increased mortahty in AKI patients both at time of consultation and after initiation of dialysis treatment [38]. 

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