Long-Term Follow-up of Acute Kidney Injury

Abstract

In the general hospital setting, approximately 15% of inpatients sustain an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) but in the critical care environment this can increase to over 25%. An episode of AKI increases the risk for both future chronic kidney disease and associated cardiovascular complications. Discharge of patients who have suffered a renal insult resulting in AKI should include consideration of longer-term follow-up, which may require nephrology input. This increase in health care burden and economic costs may be quantified and justifies the need to develop robust quality-improvement projects aimed at AKI prevention, identification, and improved management.

Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Critical care; Critical illness; Follow-up; Intensive care; Outcome.