Acute kidney injury in critically ill cancer patients is associated with mortality: A retrospective analysis

In critically ill patients, acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and associated with short- and long-term complications. Our objectives were to describe the epidemiology and impact of AKI in cancer patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

We identified all patients with a haematological malignancy (HM) or solid tumour (ST) who had an emergency admission to the ICU in a tertiary care centre between January 2004 and July 2012. AKI was defined according to the KDIGO criteria.

429 patients were included of whom 259 (60%) had AKI. Among HM patients, 73 (78%) had AKI (70% AKI on admission to ICU; 7% during ICU stay); among ST patients, 186 (56%) had AKI (45% on admission to ICU, 11% during ICU stay). ICU and 28-day mortality rates were 33% and 48%, respectively in HM patients, and 22% and 31%, respectively in ST patients. Multivariable analysis showed that AKI was an independent risk factor for both ICU and 28-day mortality. New AKI after 24 hours in ICU was associated with higher mortality than AKI on admission.

AKI is common in critically ill cancer patients and independently associated with ICU and 28-day mortality.