Inpatient and outpatient nephrology management of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury

Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) during critical illness increases the risk of subsequent chronic kidney disease. Guidelines recommend inpatient nephrology assessment and review at 3 months. Objectives To quantify the prevalence and predictors of inpatient and outpatient nephrology follow-up of AKI patients admitted to critical care areas within a tertiary hospital. Methods Retrospective study of all critically ill adults with AKI between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and alive and independent of renal replacement therapy for 30 days after hospital discharge. We used logistic regression models to examine the primary outcome of nephrology review at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included inpatient nephrology review, renal recovery at discharge and the development of a major adverse kidney event (MAKE) at 1 year. Results Of 702 critically ill patients with AKI (mean age 66 years, 64% male, baseline eGFR 78 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), 43 patients (6%) received nephrology follow-up at 3 months and 63 patients (9%) at 1 year. Nephrology follow-up occurred more frequently in patients with a higher baseline creatinine, a higher discharge creatinine and greater severity of AKI. Seventy patients (10%) underwent inpatient nephrology review. Overall, 414 (59%) had recovery of renal function by the time of discharge and 239 (34%) developed a MAKE at 12 months. Conclusion Inpatient and outpatient nephrology follow-up of AKI patients after admission to a critical care area was uncommon although one-third developed a MAKE. These findings provide the rationale for controlled studies of nephrology follow-up.