Analysis of Factors Affecting Blood Urea Nitrogen Levels and the Role of C-Reactive Protein in Elderly Patients Undergoing Dialysis

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In this study, we aimed to improve clinical management by analyzing the relationship between CRP and urea nitrogen in dialysis patients to enhance dialysis efficiency. We identified risk factors related to a reduction in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level to patients on dialysis optimize the treatment strategy for older patients undergoing dialysis. One hundred and ten older patients who underwent dialysis with recorded BUN levels between May 2022 to January 2024 were included. Clinical and medical record data were retrieved for analysis. In patients undergoing dialysis, the serum C-reactive protein level tended to increase during dialysis. Furthermore, patients with elevated C-reactive protein levels had a lower rate of urea reduction after dialysis than patients with elevated normal C-reactive protein levels. The correlation between BUN and C-reactive protein levels in patients undergoing dialysis can be influenced by various factors, including renal function, inflammatory response, and infection. The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a negative correlation between the urea reduction ratio (URR) and CRP (r = −0.494, p < 0.05). The results of this study were based on several indicators before and after dialysis for clinical management undergoing dialysis. Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value were used to determine statistical significance, and p < 0.05 indicates significance. This study was conducted to analyze the factors influencing changes in dialysis patients' blood urea nitrogen (BUN) changes before and after dialysis, aiming to improve clinical management through assessing the appropriateness of dialysis in elderly patients. Dialysis is a treatment that removes waste from patients with end-stage renal disease with an artificial dialysis machine. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is the final metabolite of ingested protein or tissue degradation and serves as an important indicator of kidney function, while C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker that indicates the presence of inflammation and infection. CRP levels can rise in the presence of infection or inflammation. For dialysis patients, early detection and treatment of infection or inflammation are crucial, and monitoring CRP levels helps in managing these conditions. Controlling BUN levels is essential in removing accumulated blood urea nitrogen from the body. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of CRP on BUN and to contribute to effective clinical management through appropriate dialysis treatment.