Renal Trauma Increases Risk of Future Hypertension.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Trauma Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Hypertension (HTN) is a common comorbidity.
• Predictive factors for post-traumatic HTN require further investigation.
• Understanding risk factors can guide patient management and follow-up.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if traumatic renal injuries predict future hypertension development.
• To determine if computed tomography (CT) findings are associated with post-traumatic HTN.
• To identify risk factors for hypertension following renal trauma.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a renal trauma database (1995-2015).
• Renal injuries graded using the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma system (high-grade: IV or V).
• Multivariable regression with propensity scoring to identify risk factors for HTN.

Main Results:

• 14% of renal trauma patients developed new-onset HTN versus 3% in controls (P=.02).
• High-grade renal trauma was associated with higher odds of developing HTN (aOR 3.5, P=.01).
• Specific CT findings (midpole medial laceration, medial blood) increased HTN odds (OR 5.36, P=.02).

Conclusions:

• Increasing renal trauma grade is a significant risk factor for developing future hypertension.
• CT imaging findings at the time of trauma can help stratify patients at higher risk for HTN.
• These findings aid in identifying patients who may benefit from closer monitoring for hypertension post-injury.