Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

In the assessment of renal blood flow, which characteristic is commonly noted?

1. Higher in females than males

2. Increased with age until maturity

3. Decreased in the elderly

4. Decreased in the supine position

The correct answer is: Decreased in the elderly

The assessment of renal blood flow reveals that it typically decreases in the elderly population. This is primarily due to several physiological changes associated with aging, including decreased cardiac output, reduced renal vascular responsiveness, and a decline in the number of functioning nephrons. As individuals age, the kidneys may also experience sclerosis of the renal blood vessels and a loss of renal mass, contributing to the overall reduction in blood flow. In older adults, these factors combine to compromise glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal perfusion, leading to a decrease in the kidney's ability to filter blood effectively. This understanding is crucial for healthcare providers, as it has significant implications for assessing renal function, drug metabolism, and overall health in geriatric patients. In contrast, the other characteristics do not accurately reflect typical renal blood flow patterns: the comparison between genders does not consistently show that females have higher blood flow than males, age-related increases generally do not occur past maturity, and while position can affect renal blood flow, the supine position is not specifically associated with a decrease in blood flow in the same way that aging does.