Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill children and associated with adverse short-term outcomes; however, long-term outcomes are not well described.
Methods: This longitudinal prospective cohort study examined the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension (HTN) 11- vs. 6 years after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and association with AKI. We examined children (age <19 years) without pre-existing kidney disease 11±1.5 years after PICU admission at a single center. AKI was defined using serum creatinine criteria. The primary outcome was a composite of CKD or HTN. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <90 mL/min/1.73m2 or albuminuria. Multivariable analyses compared outcomes at 11 vs. 6-year follow-up and association with AKI during PICU admission.
Results: Of 96 children evaluated 11 years after PICU admission, 16% had evidence of CKD or HTN (versus 28% at 6 years, p<0.05). Multivariable analysis did not show improvement in outcomes from 6- to 11-year follow-up. eGFR decreased from 6- to 11-year follow-up (adjusted coefficient -11.7, 95% CI: -17.6 to -5.9) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures improved. AKI was associated with composite outcome at 6-year (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 12.7, 95% CI: 3.2-51.2, p<0.001), but not 11-year follow-up (p=0.31). AKI was associated with CKD (aOR 10.4, 95% CI: 3.1-34.7) at 11 years.
Conclusions: This study provides novel data showing that adverse kidney and blood pressure outcomes remain highly prevalent 10 years after critical illness in childhood. The association with AKI wanes over time.