Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalised Medical Patients: Aetiology and Prognosis

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) increases the length of hospitalisation and mortality. The study aims to assess the incidence, risk factors and outcome of AKI in hospitalised medical patients.

Methods: AKI was measured in adult patients by using the serum creatinine criteria. Baseline data included age, sex, diagnosis during admission, pathological records, analytical data, use of nephrotoxic drugs, length of hospital stay, mortality at the hospital and during the follow-up, and the cause of death.

Results: A total of 100 patients were included with a mean age of 75.6 years. Majority of male patients (n= 23; 56%) were showed AKI development. The most frequent associated diseases were hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and heart failure. Hospital stay was greater than 10 days in 52 patients. The patients who developed AKI were older, and had an increased prevalence of heart failure, hypertension, diarrhoea, anaemia, increased BUN, impaired GFR, and were most frequent under ARBs or diuretics. Mortality was higher in the AKI group during hospitalisation.

Conclusions: AKI is frequent in hospitalised medical patients. A previous history of hypertension, heart failure, presence of diarrhoea, anaemia, increased BUN, low eGFR, and the use of ARBs or diuretics are the risk factors for AKI. Patients who developed AKI had an increased likelihood of death during hospitalisation.