It is a great pleasure to respond to the invitation to write a foreword for this book. With a worldwide increase in an aging population, the practice of medicine is increasingly focused on elderly patients with chronic diseases and episodic acute exacerbations rather than the previous model of acute disease management only. As nephrologists around the world deal with millions of elderly individuals, many of whom are classified as suffering from chronic kidney disease in stages 2-5, they are, of necessity, practicing geriatrics without specific training or previous exposure in this field. Therefore, most nephrologists, as well as dealing with new types of clinical presentations, and geriatric evaluation tools, will face the difficulties of reaching the treatment targets specific to geriatric patients. These geriatric targets include, in addition to the usual diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment for young adults, the recuperation of the ability to perform activities of dailyliving, which are often partially or totally lost in renal disease. Apart from these clinical difficulties, physicians will also face enormous ethical challenges. These issues are clearly dealt with by geriatricians and nephrologists. Improvements in care and advancing clinical knowledge will enable us to delineate more clearly those changes that are due to aging as opposed to those changes due to disease. This book provides an important step in further clarifying and quantifying the differences between an aging and a diseased kidney.
From the reviews:
"This book attempts to consolidate the different aspects of chronic kidney disease/end stage renal disease (CKD/ESRD) management with the corresponding aspects of geriatrics. ... The target audience would include essentially any healthcare provider who deals with the geriatric population. This could be a physician, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, medical student, etc. The book is easy to read for every one of these practitioners." (Kevin C Harned, Doody's Review Service, May, 2008)
"Whether in health or in disease, age affects many parts of the body - including the kidneys - and this book, The Aging Kidney in Health and Disease, delves deeply into these matters in a well-organized and readable fashion. It gives readers an overview of the physiology and pathology of the kidney during the aging process. ... will serve as a multidisciplinary guide for general physicians, internists, nephrologists, and geriatricians who want to improve their knowledge of geriatric nephrology." (Jane F. Reckelhoff and Julio C. Sartori-Valinotti, The New England Journal of Medicine, July, 2008)
"A multiauthored text written by renowned experts and researchers in the fields of geriatrics, urology, nephrology and hypertension, and physiology. It is intended for physicians and clinicians as well as for various other members of the allied health sciences who have a particular interest in diseases involving the genitourinary tract in elderly individuals. ... will be of utmost interest to clinicians as well as other members of the allied health field who care for elderly patients with diseases involving the kidneys and urinary tract." (Edgar V. Lerma, JAMA, October, 2008)
"Many international authors have participated in writing this book, as the editors identify, to provide the readers with a holistic perspective of geriatric nephrology. ... I strongly recommend this book to any member of the multidisciplinary team foruse as a resource in the management of the ever-expanding older population that will require renal care." (Fiona Murphy, Journal of Renal Care, Vol. 35 (1), 2009)
"The Aging Kidney in Health and Disease is a timely publication that brings together experts in the field of nephrology with geriatrics, pathology, pharmacology and urology to help educate those less familiar with the issues facing the aging patient. ... ideal for all health professionals working in renal disease who would like a greater understanding of the needs of the elderly patient. It is also suitable for those not in the field of nephrology ... ." (Journal of Renal Nursing, Vol. 1 (4), November, 2009)
"This book attempts to consolidate the different aspects of chronic kidney disease/end stage renal disease (CKD/ESRD) management with the corresponding aspects of geriatrics. ... The target audience would include essentially any healthcare provider who deals with the geriatric population. This could be a physician, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, medical student, etc. The book is easy to read for every one of these practitioners." (Kevin C Harned, Doody's Review Service, May, 2008)
"Whether in health or in disease, age affects many parts of the body - including the kidneys - and this book, The Aging Kidney in Health and Disease, delves deeply into these matters in a well-organized and readable fashion. It gives readers an overview of the physiology and pathology of the kidney during the aging process. ... will serve as a multidisciplinary guide for general physicians, internists, nephrologists, and geriatricians who want to improve their knowledge of geriatric nephrology." (Jane F. Reckelhoff and Julio C. Sartori-Valinotti, The New England Journal of Medicine, July, 2008)
"A multiauthored text written by renowned experts and researchers in the fields of geriatrics, urology, nephrology and hypertension, and physiology. It is intended for physicians and clinicians as well as for various other members of the allied health sciences who have a particular interest in diseases involving the genitourinary tract in elderly individuals. ... will be of utmost interest to clinicians as well as other members of the allied health field who care for elderly patients with diseases involving the kidneys and urinary tract." (Edgar V. Lerma, JAMA, October, 2008)
"Many international authors have participated in writing this book, as the editors identify, to provide the readers with a holistic perspective of geriatric nephrology. ... I strongly recommend this book to any member of the multidisciplinary team foruse as a resource in the management of the ever-expanding older population that will require renal care." (Fiona Murphy, Journal of Renal Care, Vol. 35 (1), 2009)
"The Aging Kidney in Health and Disease is a timely publication that brings together experts in the field of nephrology with geriatrics, pathology, pharmacology and urology to help educate those less familiar with the issues facing the aging patient. ... ideal for all health professionals working in renal disease who would like a greater understanding of the needs of the elderly patient. It is also suitable for those not in the field of nephrology ... ." (Journal of Renal Nursing, Vol. 1 (4), November, 2009)