Follow-up care of critically ill patients with AKI
In a recent Canadian study, follow-up care of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) was investigated (Jeong, 2023).
Why is this important?
While in the intensive care unit (ICU), more than half of all patients are diagnosed with acute kidney injury (AKI). There can be a variety of reasons for patients to develop AKI, but we know it has the potential to do permanent damage to the kidneys, i.e. chronic kidney disease (CKD).
AKI in the ICU is usually managed by ICU doctors, not kidney doctors. Although ICU doctors are specialists at looking after people who are critically ill, and often are experiencing organ dysfunction, they are not kidney experts. This means that often, when patient get better and go home, they may never see a kidney doctor, even if there is still kidney damage.
What did the study show?
29,732 patients who had kidney injury in the ICU from 2005 to 2018 in Alberta, Canada, were studied.
The average age was 68 years, and 39% were female.
The authors of this study found that only 25% of patients received a follow-up kidney function blood test within 3 months, and only 5% were seen by a kidney specialist (nephrologist).
This means that we are missing an important opportunity to diagnose and treat kidney disease.
How does this affect you?
Many critically ill patients with AKI do not receive the recommended follow-up care. The study highlighted a gap in the transition of care. People who are survivors of critical illness are not getting the opportunity of diagnosis and treatment of AKI.
So, if you have, or have had, an AKI and have been on ICU, it is important that your kidney function is measured for at least two years after the ICU admission – this is to pick up and focus on those who are left with chronic damage. By doing this, we can make sure that appropriate treatment is given to those who need it!
Read more about AKI here
