Ehmann MR, Klein EY, Zhao X, Mitchell J, Menez S, Smith A, Levin S, Hinson JS. Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Community-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury in the Emergency Department: A Multisite Retrospective Cohort Study.
Am J Kidney Dis 2024;
83:762-771.e1. [PMID:
38072210 DOI:
10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.10.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in the United States and its clinical consequences are not well described. Our objective was to describe the epidemiology of CA-AKI and the associated clinical outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study.
SETTING & PARTICIPANTS
178,927 encounters by 139,632 adults at 5 US emergency departments (EDs) between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022.
PREDICTORS
CA-AKI identified using KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) serum creatinine (Scr)-based criteria.
OUTCOMES
For encounters resulting in hospitalization, the in-hospital trajectory of AKI severity, dialysis initiation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death. For all encounters, occurrence over 180 days of hospitalization, ICU admission, new or progressive chronic kidney disease, dialysis initiation, and death.
ANALYTICAL APPROACH
Multivariable logistic regression analysis to test the association between CA-AKI and measured outcomes.
RESULTS
For all encounters, 10.4% of patients met the criteria for any stage of AKI on arrival to the ED. 16.6% of patients admitted to the hospital from the ED had CA-AKI on arrival to the ED. The likelihood of AKI recovery was inversely related to CA-AKI stage on arrival to the ED. Among encounters for hospitalized patients, CA-AKI was associated with in-hospital dialysis initiation (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 5.1-7.5), ICU admission (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7-2.0), and death (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 2.0-2.5) compared with patients without CA-AKI. Among all encounters, CA-AKI was associated with new or progressive chronic kidney disease (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 5.6-6.4), dialysis initiation (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 4.5-5.7), subsequent hospitalization (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2) including ICU admission (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4), and death (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.5-1.7) during the subsequent 180 days.
LIMITATIONS
Residual confounding. Study implemented at a single university-based health system. Potential selection bias related to exclusion of patients without an available baseline Scr measurement. Potential ascertainment bias related to limited repeat Scr data during follow-up after an ED visit.
CONCLUSIONS
CA-AKI is a common and important entity that is associated with serious adverse clinical consequences during the 6-month period after diagnosis.
PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a condition characterized by a rapid decline in kidney function. There are many causes of AKI, but few studies have examined how often AKI is already present when patients first arrive to an emergency department seeking medical attention for any reason. We analyzed approximately 175,000 visits to Johns Hopkins emergency departments and found that AKI is common on presentation to the emergency department and that patients with AKI have increased risks of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, development of chronic kidney disease, requirement of dialysis, and death in the first 6 months after diagnosis. AKI is an important condition for health care professionals to recognize and is associated with serious adverse outcomes.
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