Highlights
- Among veterans with acute kidney injury (AKI) at some point between 2008 to 2017, 6% died in-hospital and 28% died within 1 year. In contrast, in-hospital and one-year mortality was 0.8% and 14%, respectively, among non-AKI hospitalizations.
- In veterans hospitalized with AKI, in-hospital and one-year mortality rates remained stable throughout the study period.
Newswise — Washington, DC (February 7, 2022) — Acute kidney injury (AKI), an abrupt decline in kidney function, is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients. A recent study in CJASN that analyzes data from the Veterans Health Administration has revealed a high rate of deaths associated AKI, as more than 1 in 4 patients with AKI died within 1 year of hospitalization.
To examine recent short- and long-term mortality trends in hospitalized patients with AKI, Ryann Sohaney, DO (Henry Ford Health System) and her research colleagues analyzed data from the national Veterans Health Administration on all patients hospitalized from October 1, 2008 to September 31, 2017.
The investigators identified 1,688,457 patients and 2,689,093 hospitalizations across the study period. Among patients with AKI, 6% died in-hospital and 28% died within 1 year. In contrast, in-hospital and one-year mortality was 0.8% and 14%, respectively, among non-AKI hospitalizations.
During the study period, there was a slight decline in in-hospital AKI-associated mortality, which was attenuated after accounting for patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and acute hospitalization characteristics. This stable trend in mortality persisted at 1 year.
“Our study indicates that AKI-associated mortality remains high, as greater than 1 in 4 patients died within 1 year. There has been no significant progress toward improving in-hospital or long-term AKI survivorship,” said Dr. Sohaney.
The study was a collaboration of multiple institutions including the Henry Ford Health System; the University of Michigan; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the University of California, San Francisco; and the VA Ann Arbor Health Care System.
An accompanying editorial stressed the need for interventions that can improve AKI outcomes.
Study authors include Ryann Sohaney, DO, Huiying Yin MS, Vahakn Shahinian, MD, Rajiv Saran, MBBS, MD, MRCP, MS, Nilka Ríos Burrows, MPH, Meda E. Pavkov, MD PhD, Tanushree Banerjee, PhD, Chi-yuan Hsu, MD, Neil Powe, MD, MPH, Diane Steffick, PhD, Kara Zivin, PhD, and Michael Heung, MD.
Disclosures: The authors reported no financial disclosures.
The article, titled “In-Hospital and 1-Year Mortality Trends in a National Cohort of US Veterans with Acute Kidney Injury,” will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on February 7, 2022, doi: 10.2215/CJN.01730221.
The editorial, titled “Improved Survival after Acute Kidney Injury: Past and Future,” will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on February 7, 2022, doi: 10.2215/CJN.16351221.
The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.
About ASN
Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has more than 21,000 members representing 131 countries. For more information, visit www.asn-online.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
# # #
RSS