How long does it take to die from kidney failure without dialysis

Sometimes referred to as renal failure, kidney failure is the final stage of chronic kidney disease. The patient’s kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste and extra water from the blood, creating a build-up within the body, which is terminal when left untreated.

At this point, the patient needs dialysis or a kidney transplant. If neither of these options are available, or if the patient opts to forgo this treatment, hospice care can help in ensuring the patient’s remaining time is as comfortable as possible by managing pain and other symptoms. Once the patient reaches end stage renal disease (ESRD), death usually occurs within a few weeks. This can be longer or shorter depending on the patient’s overall health, and how much kidney function they have left.

As a family caregiver of someone with kidney failure, it is important that you are able to recognize the signs and symptoms of end-stage kidney failure. By knowing how to identify the signs, you can help your loved one in receiving the right care when it’s needed most.

What are the signs of end-of-life kidney failure?

Some of the most common end-of-life kidney failure signs include:

  • Water retention/swelling of legs and feet
  • Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Shortness of breath
  • Insomnia and sleep issues
  • Itchiness, cramps, and muscle twitches
  • Passing very little or no urine
  • Drowsiness and fatigue

End-of-life kidney failure can be painful depending on the patient. While patients may experience symptoms including pain, they can be managed with medication and other hospice care services that are designed to meet all the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional needs.

Tips for managing end-of-life kidney failure symptoms.

There are several different ways you can help a loved one manage their end-stage kidney failure symptoms. Perhaps the most valuable thing you can do is listen to your loved one and try as best you can to address their issues. However, if at any time you are unsure of how you can help, or if the patient is unable to communicate effectively, we recommend contacting their primary care physician.

What you can do for your loved one.

Besides managing symptoms, as a family caregiver you can help by communicating what end-of-life kidney failure signs you are seeing to the patient’s doctor and the hospice care team. Additionally, as a loved one, you can help the patient get their affairs in order. And finally, if it hasn’t been done already, by contacting a hospice services provider as soon as possible.

How hospice can help with end-stage kidney failure.

Besides providing help in recognizing the signs of end-of-life kidney failure, hospice can help the family caregiver in managing their own needs. The team at Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care includes nurses, volunteers, aides, social workers, and doctors who provide many different services, from personal care like grooming and bathing, to help with managing the patient’s medication.

If you would like to learn more about how Crossroads can help, we recommend you contact us now by selecting one of the “24/7 Help” options from the green bar at the top of this page.

End-of-life signs by disease.

Learn about the specific end-of-life signs of common diseases and illnesses:

  • Cancer
  • Dementia
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • COPD
  • Lung Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Pancreatic Cancer

More end-of-life resources.

  • Preparing for the Death of a Parent
  • Blood Pressure Before Death
  • Breathing Patterns Before Death
  • What is Active Dying?
  • Mottled Skin Before Death
  • Terminal Restlessness
  • End-of-Life Confusion

  • Life Expectancy
  • Changes
    • What changes occur after stopping dialysis?
  • What Is It
    • What is stage V kidney disease?
  • Causes
    • What causes stage V kidney disease?
  • Treatment
    • How is stage V chronic kidney disease treated?
  • Related Resources
    • Related Resources - How Long Can a Person Live With Stage V Kidney Failure Without Dialysis?

How long does it take to die from kidney failure without dialysis

Life expectancy for stage V kidney failure without dialysis varies from person to person. However, death is inevitable within a few weeks

Life expectancy for stage V kidney failure without dialysis is not definitive. However, as toxins accumulate in the body and cause uremia, death is inevitable within a few weeks. Even if death does not occur immediately, quality of life dramatically decreases. 

How long a person can live depends on their medical history and other factors, such as:

  • Age (chances of survival decreases with advancing age)
  • Kidney function (lifespan decreases as kidney function decreases)
  • Severity of symptoms
  • Coexisting conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer
  • Compliance to medications, diet and lifestyle factors

According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), with dialysis stage V kidney disease has a life expectancy of 5-10 years, though many patients have lived well for 20-30 years.

What changes occur after stopping dialysis?

During the final days of life, physical and emotional changes may occur:

  • Lack of appetite
  • Fluid retention
  • Sleeping most of the time
  • Unusual restlessness
  • Disorientation, confusion, and lack of interest in activities
  • Inability to recognize familiar faces
  • Change in skin color and temperature
  • Heavy breathing

How long does it take to die from kidney failure without dialysis

What is stage V kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is divided into five stages based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) scale. A normal GFR range is around 125 mg/dL. Stage V kidney disease occurs when eGFR falls to 15 or less, indicating kidney failure.

Typically, kidneys are responsible for:

  • Filtering fluids, electrolytes, minerals out of the body 
  • Maintaining pH balance
  • Regulating blood pressure
  • Producing erythropoietin, a hormone that contributes to red blood cell production
  • Activating vitamin D for bone strengthening

How long does it take to die from kidney failure without dialysis

SLIDESHOW

Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment See Slideshow

How is stage V chronic kidney disease treated?

While there is no cure available for end-stage renal disease, treatment may extend lifespan and provide better quality of life:

Dialysis: Dialysis involves using a machine that helps filter blood by removing toxic waste products and maintains a healthy level of potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, and other chemicals that control blood pressure. If their kidneys have failed, a person will need to be on dialysis for the rest of their life unless they undergo a kidney transplant. Dialysis extends life expectancy and prevents further damage. The types of dialysis are:

Hemodialysis (HD): Can be performed at home or in a dialysis center.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD): Blood is filtered by using blood vessels in the lining of the abdomen along with a solution called dialysate.

Kidney transplant: Kidney transplant involves receiving a healthy kidney from a living or a deceased donor. Anti-rejection medicines are prescribed to avoid organ rejection.

Diet and lifestyle changes and regular follow-ups can also help increase lifespan:

  • Following recommended dietary plans:
    • Kidney-friendly diet, prescribed by a dietitian
    • Limiting the intake of sodium, phosphorous, potassium, and protein-rich or fat-rich foods
  • Exercising regularly
  • Sticking to the dialysis schedule as recommended
  • Avoiding or quitting smoking
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Maintaining a good sleep routine
  • Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure levels
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight

Health News

Medically Reviewed on 1/19/2022

References

Image Source: iStock Images

American Kidney Fund. Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/stages-of-chronic-kidney-disease/

National Kidney Foundation. Dialysis. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/dialysisinfo

Johns Hopkins Medicine. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/end-stage-renal-failure

How do you know death is near with kidney failure?

Some of the most common end-of-life kidney failure signs include: Water retention/swelling of legs and feet. Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Confusion.

How long can you survive kidney failure without dialysis?

People with kidney failure may survive days to weeks without dialysis, depending on the amount of kidney function they have, how severe their symptoms are, and their overall medical condition.

How long before death when kidneys shut down?

Without life-sustaining dialysis or a kidney transplant, once a person with kidney disease reaches stage 5 (end stage renal disease or ESRD), toxins build up in the body and death usually comes within a few weeks.

Can you die suddenly from kidney failure?

Death. Acute kidney failure can lead to loss of kidney function and, ultimately, death.