Acute kidney injury in critically ill patients in the intensive care units

Abstract

Introduction. Acute kidney injury is a serious complication in critically ill patients in the intensive care units. The incidence varies from 20% to as high as 80%. Acute kidney injury is associated with expensive supportive therapy, high morbidity and poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, causes, risk factors, treatment options and treatment outcomes of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients. Material and Methods. The study included 44 patients, with an average age of 67 ? 13.20 years. The data were collected during a three-month prospective study at the Department of Emergency Internal Medicine of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. Demographic data were collected from the medical records, as well as data on blood tests, comorbidities, use of nephrotoxic agents, and treatment of these patients. Results. Of the 44 patients who were included in the study, 20% developed acute kidney injury. De novo acute kidney injury was diagnosed in 51.22% and 48.78% of patients had acute-onchronic renal failure. The most common type of acute kidney injury was pre-renal, 80.95%. Comorbidities were present in all patients, most often arterial hypertension, in 52.4% of patients. Complete recovery of kidney function was found in 42.86% of patients and the mortality was 28.57%. Conservative therapy was used in 90.48% of patients, while 9.52% of patients required renal replacement therapy. Conclusion. De novo acute kidney injury was found in approximately half of the critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, mainly older patients with comorbidities. The most common type of acute kidney injury was pre-renal. Older age and comorbidities were associated with poor outcomes and high mortality.