Publication:

A study of the course and outcome of COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury admitted in an intensive care unit

Background COVID-19 is a disease which predominantly affects the lung resulting in ARDS and respiratory failure. We described the factors associated with the development of AKI (acute kidney injury) and explored the relation of AKI and mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 admitted in intensive care unit of our hospital.

Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted in our hospital during the period of April 2021 to June 2021. 182 patients were selected for the study. Ethical committee approval was obtained. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.0Results: Among the 182 patients, AKI occurred in 99 (54%) patients; 18 (18%) of the patients with AKI required dialysis. The proportions with stages 1, 2, or 3 AKI were 56%, 22% and 21%, respectively. Upon analysis, TC, CRP, D-dimer were significantly higher in patients with AKI compared to non-AKI. Of the 99 patients with AKI, urine studies showed 59% as having proteinuria and 22% having haematuria. Independent predictors of severe AKI were male gender and higher serum potassium at admission. In-hospitalized patients’ mortality was 37% among patients with AKI versus 5% among those without AKI.

Conclusions AKI complicated the course of nearly 1 in 3 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Advanced-stage AKI is associated with extremely high mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Age, male gender, comorbidities which are risk factors for mortality in patients with COVID-19 in the general population are also related to in-hospital mortality in patients with AKI.