Predisposing factors for acute kidney injury in Hispanic patients treated with diuretics for decompensated heart...

In patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), use of loop diuretic therapy may result in acute kidney insufficiency (AKI). We assessed the factors that contributed to the development of AKI in patients with CHF treated with loop diuretics in a sample of patients who attended the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean (CCPRC).

Medical records of 236 patients admitted between: January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 with the diagnosis of CHF were reviewed. Diagnosis of CHF based on symptoms and signs was confirmed by echocardiography. Twenty six (26) patients with significant valvular disease and four (4) patients who did not receive diuretics during hospitalization were excluded. Hospital course was observed until diuretic therapy was discontinued or patient was discharged. AKI was defined as a 25% increase in serum creatinine level after the start of diuretic therapy. The study sample was categorized in two groups: patients who developed AKI and those who did not. Variables associated with AKI (p<0.05) in the bivariate logistic regression models were included in the multivariate logistic regression models.

In the multivariate logistic regression model, only a greater dose of diuretic therapy (>80 mg/dl) and history of diabetes mellitus were significantly (p<0.05) associated with AKI.

Analysis of data shows that increased doses of diuretic therapy and history of diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with AKI in patients with CHF. This study highlights the importance of monitoring the doses of diuretic therapy during hospitalization, in this group of patients.