Acute kidney injury – improving outcomes with early risk assessment and intervention

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is being recognized around the world as a preventable and treatable cause of increasing morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological data from the developing world show an increasing trend in its incidence, though data from the developing world is still scarce. Causes for AKI differ among developed and developing countries with sepsis as the leading cause in the developed world while communicable diseases, toxin related acute kidney injuries as well as those associated with herbal medications still contribute to the incidence in the developing world. The mortality following AKI is between 20-60% with many needing intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and renal replacement therapy (RRT). There is increasing evidence that AKI may lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Early risk assessment and adoption of simple prevention strategies have shown to improve outcomes in AKI.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v44i1-2.7683

Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians, 2013, 44, 22-27