Risk Factors and Outcomes of AKI after LAAC Operation: A Single-Center Observational Study from Mainland China

This study aimed to investigate the predictors and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) occurrence among Chinese patients following left atrial appendage closure (LAAC).

We retrospectively enrolled 512 consecutive patients who underwent LAAC between January 2014 and December 2019. AKI was clinically defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes serum creatinine criteria. Major adverse cardiovascular events were defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, readmission due to heart failure, cardiac surgery, systemic embolism, or bleeding events.

The incidence of AKI was 5.3% and was highest in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4-5 (25.0%), followed by those with CKD stages 3a-3b (9.1%), and those with CKD stages 1-2 or without CKD (3.9% only). Multivariate logistic regression showed that lower body mass index (odds ratio [OR] = 0.889; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.803-0.986; p = 0.017), hypertension (OR = 5.577; 95% CI, 1.267-24.558; p = 0.023), and CKD stages 4-5 (OR = 6.729; 95% CI, 1.566-28.923; p = 0.010) were independent risk factors for AKI development after LAAC. AKI after LAAC was associated with 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (33.3% vs. 7.5%, p $$ 0.001) and all-cause mortality (11.1% vs. 0.9%, p $$ 0.001) compared to that in the non-AKI group.

AKI is relatively common after LAAC in patients with a baseline impaired glomerular filtration rate. Moreover, AKI after LAAC is mainly related to increased midterm mortality and morbidity, which require more strategies for prevention and treatment.