Risk factors for mortality in acute kidney injury

This study aims to evaluate the outcome of AKI patients caused by acute tubular necrosis admitted in clinical and surgical units of Botucatu Medical School University Hospital - UNESP.

This is a retrospective cohort study with 477 adult patients were observed from January 2001 to December 2008. AKI was defined according to serum creatinine levels as proposed by Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN).

The mean age was 65.5 ± 162 years. The majority of the patients were males (62%) older than 60 years (65.2%). Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 61.9%, high blood pressure in 44.4% and chronic kidney disease 21.8% of the patients. Death occurred 66% of dialysis requirement, critical care unit admission, age > 60 years and lower attendance time by nephrologists were significant and independently associated with death risk. The renal recorery among survivors was of 96.9%.

This work shows that the evolution of AKI patients from clinical and surgical wards is similar to literature. However, the high mortality of the group shows the necessity of identifying risk factors for the development of AKI in these patients and training staff assistant for the early diagnosis of this syndrome.