Objective To investigate risk factors bringing on death and the conversion factors of renal function in the elder acute re-nal failure (ABF) and establish the prevention and treatment measure in clinic to reduce mortality. Methods The clinical information of 143 elder ARF cases which were treated by two hospitals for many years was studied. The risk factors possible bringing on death in the elder ARF were studied by using binary logistic regression pattern. The clinical factors possible affecting the conversion of renal function in the eld-er ARF were analyzed. Results Binary logistic regression pattern study showed that heart failure, respiratory failure, gastrointestinal bleed-ing, hepatic failure, coma, organ failure number and lower blood pressure among 25 study factors were found to be the risk factors bringing on death, and heart failure, respiratory failure, organ failure number and whether chronic renal insufficiency were the most important factors of affecting recover of renal function in the elder ARF. Conclusion The effective prevention and treatment measure should be adopted in the elder ARF with these risk factors so as to reduce mortality and increase the recover rate of renal function.