Care bundles for acute kidney injury: a balanced accounting of the impact of implementation in an acute medical unit

Quality, safety, and implementation science in acute kidney care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Quality and safety are important themes in acute kidney care (AKC). There have been many recent initiatives highlighting these aspects. However, for these to become part of clinical practice, a rigorous implementation science methodology must be followed. This review will present these practices and will highlight recent initiatives in acute kidney injury (AKI), kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and recovery from AKI.

RECENT FINDINGS

The 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) focused on achieving a framework for improving AKI care. This has led to various quality improvement (QI) initiatives that have been implemented following a robust implementation science methodology. In AKI, QI initiatives have been focused on implementing care bundles and early detection systems for patients at risk or with AKI. KRT initiatives have focused on measuring and reporting key performance indicators (KPIs), and providing targeted feedback and education to improve delivery of KRT. Finally, it has been recognized that post-AKI care is vitally important, and ongoing work has been focused on implementing pathways to ensure continuing kidney-focused care.

SUMMARY

Quality and safety continue to be important focuses in AKC. Although recent work have focused on initiatives to improve these themes, additional work is necessary to further develop these items as we strive to improve the care to patients with AKI.

Impact of AKI care bundles on kidney and patient outcomes in hospitalized patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

A bundle of preventive measures can be taken to avoid acute kidney injury (AKI) or progression of AKI. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the compliance to AKI care bundles in hospitalized patients and its impact on kidney and patient outcomes.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials, observational and interventional studies were included. Studied outcomes were care bundle compliance, occurrence of AKI and moderate-severe AKI, use of kidney replacement therapy (KRT), kidney recovery, mortality (ICU, in-hospital and 30-day) and length-of-stay (ICU, hospital). The search engines PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar were used (January 1, 2012 - June 30, 2021). Meta-analysis was performed with the Mantel Haenszel test (risk ratio) and inverse variance (mean difference). Bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RCT) and the NIH study quality tool (non-RCT).

Results

We included 23 papers of which 13 were used for quantitative analysis (4 RCT and 9 non-randomized studies with 25,776 patients and 30,276 AKI episodes). Six were performed in ICU setting. The number of trials pooled per outcome was low. There was a high variability in care bundle compliance (8 to 100%). Moderate-severe AKI was less frequent after bundle implementation [RR 0.78, 95%CI 0.62–0.97]. AKI occurrence and KRT use did not differ between the groups [resp RR 0.90, 95%CI 0.76–1.05; RR 0.67, 95%CI 0.38–1.19]. In-hospital and 30-day mortality was lower in AKI patients exposed to a care bundle [resp RR 0.81, 95%CI 0.73–0.90, RR 0.95 95%CI 0.90–0.99]; this could not be confirmed by randomized trials. Hospital length-of-stay was similar in both groups [MD -0.65, 95%CI -1.40,0.09].

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis shows that implementation of AKI care bundles in hospitalized patients reduces moderate-severe AKI. This result is mainly driven by studies performed in ICU setting. Lack of data and heterogeneity in study design impede drawing firm conclusions about patient outcomes. Moreover, compliance to AKI care bundles in hospitalized patients is highly variable. Additional research in targeted patient groups at risk for moderate-severe AKI with correct and complete implementation of a feasible, well-tailored AKI care bundle is warranted. (CRD42020207523).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-021-02534-4.

Improving the quality of neonatal acute kidney injury care: neonatal-specific response to the 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) conference

With the adoption of standardized neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) definitions over the past decade and the concomitant surge in research studies, the epidemiology of and risk factors for neonatal AKI have become much better understood. Thus, there is now a need to focus on strategies designed to improve AKI care processes with the goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with neonatal AKI. The 22nd Acute Dialysis/Disease Quality Improvement (ADQI) report provides a framework for such quality improvement in adults at risk for AKI and its sequelae. While many of the concepts can be translated to neonates, there are a number of specific nuances which differ in neonatal AKI care. A group of experts in pediatric nephrology and neonatology came together to provide neonatal-specific responses to each of the 22nd ADQI consensus statements.

In-Hospital Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in both adults and children. This study aimed to investigate the in-hospital outcomes of CS-AKI in the pediatric population. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for studies published by August 2020. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed, comparing in-hospital outcomes between patients who developed CS-AKI and those who did not. Results: Fifty-eight publications between 2008 and 2020 consisting of 18,334 participants (AKI: 5,780; no AKI: 12,554) were included. Higher rates of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 7.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.27-9.88), need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) (OR 18.8, 95% CI 11.7-30.5), and cardiac arrhythmias (OR 2.67, 95% 1.86-4.80) were observed in patients with CS-AKI. Furthermore, patients with AKI had longer ventilation times (mean difference [MD] 1.76 days, 95% CI 1.05-2.47), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) length of stay (MD 3.31, 95% CI 2.52-4.10), and hospital length of stay (MD 5.00, 95% CI 3.34-6.67). Conclusions: CS-AKI in the pediatric population is associated with a higher risk of mortality, cardiac arrhythmias and need for RRT, as well as greater mechanical ventilation time, PICU and hospital length of stay. These results might help improve the clinical care protocols prior to cardiac surgery to minimize the disease burden of CS-AKI in children. Furthermore, etiology-specific approaches to AKI are warranted, as outcomes are likely impacted by the underlying cause.

Randomized Controlled Trial Evidence of Cost-Effectiveness of a Multifaceted AKI Intervention Approach

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased health care utilization and higher costs. The Tackling AKI study was a multicenter, pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial that demonstrated a reduced hospital length of stay after implementation of a multifaceted AKI intervention (e-alerts, care bundle, and an education program). We tested whether this would result in cost savings.

Methods

A decision-analytic tree model from the payer perspective (National Health Service in the United Kingdom) was generated on which cost-effectiveness analyses were performed using a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, accounting only for direct medical costs. Clinical data from the Tackling AKI study were used as inputs and economic and utility data derived from relevant published literature.

Results

A total of 24,059 AKI episodes occurred during the study period, and in 18,887 admissions the patient was discharged alive. When all AKI stages were considered together, the cost per AKI admission was £5065 in the control arm and £4333 in the intervention arm, representing an incremental cost saving of £732 per admission with the intervention. Similar results were obtained when AKI stages were included as separate variables. Costs per quality-adjusted life year were £61,194 in the control group and £51,161 in the intervention group. At a willingness to pay threshold of £20,000 per quality-adjusted life year, the probability of the intervention being cost-effective compared with standard care was 90%.

Conclusion

An organizational level approach to improve standards of AKI care reduces the cost of hospital admissions and is cost effective within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.

Impact of electronic alerts for acute kidney injury on patient outcomes: interrupted time-series analysis of population cohort data

Background

Automated acute kidney injury (AKI) electronic alerts (e-alerts) are rule-based warnings triggered by changes in creatinine and are intended to facilitate earlier detection in AKI. We assessed the impact of the introduction in the Tayside region of UK in April 2015 of automated AKI e-alerts with an accompanying education programme.

Methods

Interrupted time-series analysis using segmented regression was performed involving all adults with AKI aged ≥18 years who had a serum creatinine measured between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017. Analysis evaluated associations of AKI e-alert introduction on rate and severity (Stages 2–3) of AKI as well as mortality and occupied hospital bed days per patient per month in the population with AKI.

Results

There were 32 320 episodes of AKI during the observation period. Implementation of e-alerts had no effect on the rate of any AKI [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.996, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.991 to 1.001, P = 0.086] or on the rate of severe AKI (IRR 0.995, 95% CI 0.990 to 1.000, P = 0.061). Subgroup analysis found no impact on the rate or severity of AKI in hospital or in the community. Thirty-day mortality following AKI did not improve (IRR 0.998, 95% CI 0.987 to 1.009, P = 0.688). There was a slight reduction in occupied bed days (β-coefficient −0.059, 95% CI −0.094 to −0.025, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Introduction of automated AKI e-alerts was not associated with a change in the rate, severity or mortality associated with AKI, but there was a small reduction in occupied hospital bed days.

Quality of care after AKI development in the hospital: Consensus from the 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) conference

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Quality improvement has been identified as an important goal in the care of patients with AKI. Different settings can be targeted to improve AKI care, broadly classified these include the inpatient and outpatient environments. In this paper, we will emphasize quality indicators associated with the management and secondary prevention of AKI in hospitalized patients to limit the severity, duration, and complications.

METHODS

During the 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference, a multidisciplinary group of experts discussed the evidence and used a modified Delphi process to achieve consensus on recommendations for AKI-related quality indicators (QIs) and care processes to improve patient outcomes. The management and secondary prevention of AKI in hospitalized patients were discussed, and recommendations were summarized.

RESULTS

The first step in optimizing the quality of AKI management is the determination of baseline performance. Data regarding each institution's/center's performance can provide a reference point from which to benchmark quality efforts. Quality program initiatives should prioritize achievable goals likely to have the highest impact according to the setting and context. Key AKI quality metrics should include improvement in timely recognition, appropriate diagnostic workup, and implementation of known interventions that limit progression and severity, facilitating recovery, and mitigating AKI-associated complications. We propose the Recognition-Action-Results framework to plan, measure, and report the progress toward improving AKI management quality.

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations identified and outlined an approach to define and evaluate the quality of AKI management in hospitalized patients.

Interventions for improving outcomes in acute kidney injury

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Since the adoption of the classification of acute kidney injury (AKI) through changes in serum creatinine and/or urine output, much data have accumulated as to the associated risks in terms of morbidity and mortality after the development of AKI. However, until recently, a nihilistic approach persisted which implied that little could be done to alter the clinical course of a patient with AKI even where early identification was achieved. This view is reinforced by the opinion that given the broad cause underlying the syndrome of AKI, a 'one size fits all' approach is unlikely to be successful.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent evidence suggests that the management of AKI may be improved somewhat by simple measures, such as the use of care bundles particularly in the intensive care setting. Moreover, there are other interventions using common treatments, which may prove to be of benefit as well as some early evidence that specific therapeutics may be on the horizon.

SUMMARY

Although a syndrome of significantly differing causes, the application of standardized care bundles appears promising and this approach may be improved by the use of specific therapies, including recombinant alkaline phosphatase, the use of intravenous bicarbonate and remote ischaemic preconditioning may also ameliorate the effects of AKI.

Assessing the accuracy of ICD-10 coding for measuring rates of and mortality from acute kidney injury and the impact of electronic alerts: an observational cohort study

Background

The application of a uniform definition for acute kidney injury (AKI) is vital to advance understanding and management of AKI. International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) (ICD-10) coding is frequently used to define AKI, but its accuracy is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether ICD-10 coding is a reliable method of monitoring rates and outcomes of AKI in inpatients compared with biochemically defined AKI, and whether electronic alerts (e-alerts) for AKI affect ICD-10 AKI coding.

Methods

An observational cohort study of all 505 662 adult admissions to acute hospitals in two Scottish Health Boards [National Health Service (NHS) Tayside and NHS Fife] from January 2013 to April 2017 was performed. AKI e-alerts were implemented in NHS Tayside in April 2015. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of ICD-10 coding for AKI compared with biochemically defined AKI using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes definition and relative risk of 30-day mortality in people with ICD-10 and biochemically defined AKI before and after AKI e-alert implementation were performed.

Results

Sensitivity of ICD-10 coding for identifying biochemically defined AKI was very poor in both health boards for all AKI (Tayside 25.7% and Fife 35.8%) and for Stages 2 and 3 AKI (Tayside 43.8% and Fife 53.8%). Positive predictive value was poor both for all AKI (Tayside 76.1% and Fife 45.5%) and for Stages 2 and 3 AKI (Tayside 45.5% and Fife 36.8%). Measured mortality fell following implementation of AKI e-alerts in the ICD-10-coded population but not in the biochemically defined AKI population, reflecting an increase in the proportion of Stage 1 AKI in ICD-10-coded AKI. There was no evidence that the introduction of AKI e-alerts in Tayside improved ICD-10 coding of AKI.

Conclusion

ICD-10 coding should not be used for monitoring of rates and outcomes of AKI for either research or improvement programmes.