Is stepwise profiling of sodium and fluid removal during the dialysis of elderly patients clinically beneficial?

INTERVENTION: 1. No intervention 2. Fluid removal profiling alone 3. Sodium profiling alone 4. Fluid and sodium profiling alone CONDITION: Chronic renal failure; dialysis ; Urological and Genital Diseases ; Chronic renal failure PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Number of nursing interventions; 2. Changes in blood pressure; 3. Episodes of hypotension (defined as a drop >30 mmHg systolic blood pressure) ; 4. At the end of each phase of the study (3 treatment sessions) patient quality of life will be assessed by the use of SF36 questionnaire, and a fatigue questionnaire as described by Prince MI. James OF. Holland NP. Jones DE. Validation of a fatigue impact score in primary biliary cirrhosis: towards a standard for clinical and trial use. Journal of Hepatology. 32(3):368‐73, 2000 SECONDARY OUTCOME: Not provided at time of registration INCLUSION CRITERIA: Study will be confined to patients with chronic renal failure on regular dialysis whose age is greater than 65 years