Trends in Hospitalizations for Acute Kidney Injury - United States, 2000-2014

What is already known about this topic? Clinicians increasingly recognize acute kidney injury as an in-hospital complication of sepsis, heart conditions, and surgery. It is associated with higher likelihood of long-term care, increased incidence of chronic kidney disease, increased hospital mortality, and higher health care costs. A number of U.S. studies have indicated an increasing incidence of dialysis-treated acute kidney injury since the late 1990s. What is added by this report? Analysis of data from the 2000–2014 National Inpatient Sample and the National Health Interview Surveys indicates a signifi­cant absolute and relative increase in hospitalization rates for acute kidney injury among men and women in the United States. Hospitalization for acute kidney injury among persons with diabetes accounted for approximately 40% of all such hospitalizations; absolute increases in hospitalization rates among persons with diabetes were larger than those among persons without diabetes. What are the implications for public health and health care practice? Diabetes is a known risk factor for acute kidney injury. The increasing number of persons living with diabetes is likely to also increase the number of persons with acute kidney injury. Improved awareness by health care providers that diabetes, hypertension, and advanced age are important risk factors for acute kidney injury might reduce its occurrence and improve management of the underlying diseases in an aging population. © 2018, Department of Health and Human Services. All rights reserved.