The following is a summary of “Mortality and morbidity associated with new onset acute kidney injury in critically ill COVID-19 infection patients,” published in the July 2024 issue of Emergency Medicine by Fischer et al.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study investigating the potential association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality rates in patients with severe COVID-19.

They reviewed data from 2 years of critically ill adults with COVID-19 on ventilatory support in the ICU. The study included patients admitted directly to the ICU and initially on the Medical Floor who were later moved to the ICU due to deteriorating respiratory or hemodynamic conditions. Each group was subdivided into 3 categories based on AKI status: no AKI, newly developed AKI, and with a history of dialysis-dependent AKI.

The results showed that the AKI subgroup had the highest mortality rates in both the ICU and patients on the Medical Floor. Additionally, patients initially on the Medical Floor who were transferred to the ICU for worsening conditions had elevated mortality rates if AKI was developed during the hospital stay.

Investigators concluded a strong association between the development of AKI and increased mortality rates in patients who were critically ill.

Source: intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-024-00666-6